We need to tear down the walls. We need to connect the dots and focus more on outcomes as opposed to inputs.

Congress' authority over Indian affairs is established in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution.

So, let's give the tribes the ability to have checks and balances, as well, and not put that complete authority in the hands of the Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee and the Secretary of the Speaker's House.

We need to honestly put people above this partisanship, and solutions above ideology.

I would suggest one thing. Again, this is a hearing. And it is to look for improvement in this legislation.

The committee will come to order.

We created these tribes, and by an Act of Congress, they are going to take what is rightfully theirs.

They are going to take what is rightfully theirs without compensation.

I want to take your help and put it in the business.

My goal is actually to empower Native American tribes, and we should be doing that.

I want to ensure that, for the record, we all understand that my concern is with the very poor tribes that may not be able to afford a representative to come here and represent them.

This is the house of the people, not the house of the Administration. It is our responsibility, under the Constitution--it is very clear--that Congress makes these decisions.

slow, cumbersome, and enormously expensive.

I bet you are happy about that. And how do I know who else is going to be sitting in that chair? How does a tribe know?

I suggest, respectfully, that you and each person at that table give us some suggestions.

I have sat through this too many times and listened to you talking about how bad Republicans are.

Established in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution and held by the Supreme Court, Congress has exclusive and absolute authority over Indian affairs.

this is worse than any other jurisdiction that I have seen, whether it be the EPA, the water rule, whether it be the clean power rule--this is worse than all of that, because this distorts the Constitution, plain and simple.

There is going to be consistency.

That was my bill, you know. That was my bill.

Acknowledgment decisions are political.

Where is the outcry on this side of the aisle?

This is my intent--to make things clear, more positive, consistent.

Hearing held on Wednesday, October 28, 2015 (Part 1)

That is not the way it should be done, and I am not going to have that type of thing happen again.