Jim Saxton: “Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1604 will provide for the division, use and distribution of judgment funds of the Ottawa and Chippewa…”

“Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1604 will provide for the division, use and distribution of judgment funds of the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan pursuant to the Indian Claims Commission dockets. These judgment funds were appropriated by Congress years ago and have been held by the Department of Interior for the beneficiaries. The funds would be divided according to a formula included in H.R. 1604 between individuals and on judgment distribution rules of decedents to be created by the Secretary of the Interior and 5 Michigan tribes. Those portions of the funds to be distributed to each tribe shall be disbursed after a plan for use and distribution by each tribe has been approved by the Secretary of the Interior. This is a good bill, it is fair. It has been approved by the tribes with whom we have worked who are entitled to the distribution of money. The Federal Government has delayed the distribution of these funds long enough. It is now time to act, and I urge a ``yea'' vote.”