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.

slow, cumbersome, and enormously expensive.

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.

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?

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

The committee will come to order.

where the Department had received its authority to acknowledge tribes.

My goal originally with Kevin--and, as was before--is to improve the way that the Department establishes legitimacy of the application.

Where is the support for the American Natives, the first Americans, which is strongly supported by all the tribes?

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

This bill provides that congressional determinations will be informed by the analysis of the Department of the Interior's professional experts.

I am very proud of this bill, and I am a sponsor of this bill, and no one is lining my pockets. I resent that comment. I am thinking of the United States of America and how we are importing these 31 known minerals and the process that we…

At this time, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tipton).

There is nothing in this act that changes the President's authority. I go back to self-determination. These are tribal lands owned by the tribes, controlled by the tribal council, and they will make a decision about the sacred sites; not…

In closing, I suggest one thing. This bill came from the tribes, not from the Sierra Club and not from the friends of this and not from the friends of that. All 28 organizations had nothing to do with the tribes. I have said all along--and…

On that I demand the yeas and nays. The yeas and nays were ordered. The SPEAKER pro tempore. This is a 5-minute vote. The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 254, nays 173, not voting 7, as follows: [Roll No. 544]…

At this time, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce).

I have an amendment that was made in order under the rule. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 4, strike lines 9 through 15, and insert the following: ``(1) Review and…

This amendment clarifies who may submit public comments on a NEPA study concerning a Federal permit or land approval for Indian lands. It also preserves current NEPA requirements concerning tribal gaming proposals. When a NEPA study is…

I hope it is the right color for Ranking Member Grijalva. I yield back the balance of time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young). The amendment was agreed to. Amendment No. 2…

I would like to mention one thing. I do have an amendment for a future day--I am speaking to the gentleman--on NEPA. We don't change the NEPA policy at all, other than the fact that only those affected can have comments on how it affects…

At this time, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar).

At this time, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. McMorris Rodgers). Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Native American Energy Act. Having an all-of-the-above energy policy means all people…

If you have that many acres off limits now, are any of the monuments that they are proposing in that area?

It has killed my timber industry and is trying to kill the fishing industry by federally-controlled management of fish, and I would say timber and all other resources, otherwise a socialist program.