Bruce Westerman: “Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5910, introduced by Representative Hageman of Wyoming, would amend the Long-Term Leasing Act to…”

“Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5910, introduced by Representative Hageman of Wyoming, would amend the Long-Term Leasing Act to authorize all federally recognized Indian Tribes to lease land held in trust for up to 99 years. Under current law, Indian trust lands may generally be leased for up to 25 years, with one additional 25-year renewal term. While Congress has repeatedly amended the act to authorize specific Tribes to enter 99-year leases, this authority is not uniformly available across Indian Country. As a result, Tribes must often seek separate legislation to obtain the same long-term leasing authority that others already possess. Lease terms of up to 99 years are frequently necessary to support major commercial development and secure private financing. Without long-term certainty, lenders and investors may be reluctant to commit capital to projects on trust land. H.R. 5910 addresses this issue by extending 99-year leasing authority to all federally recognized Tribes, eliminating the need for Tribe-by-Tribe amendments, while maintaining the Secretary of the Interior's approval requirement. This approach promotes parity, reduces administrative delays, and supports economic development in Tribal communities. I commend Ms. Hageman for advancing legislation that promotes consistency and opportunity across Indian Country, and I support the bill.”