Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 897, the Agua Caliente Land Exchange Fee to Trust Confirmation Act, would place approximately 2,560 acres of land owned by the Agua Caliente Tribe within the reservation into trust. And I will agree with the gentlewoman from New Mexico. I have visited this area, and it is a beautiful area. The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians' reservation is located approximately 100 miles southeast of Los Angeles in and around Palm Springs, California, with nearly 11,000 acres of the reservation within the city limits of Palm Springs. Originally established in 1876 by President Grant, the Tribe's reservation only encompassed 1\1/2\ acres. Today, the reservation is approximately 31,000 acres. The lands in question were acquired through a land exchange with the Bureau of Land Management in 2018 pursuant to the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Act of 2000. H.R. 897 would allow the Bureau of Land Management exchange lands owned by the Tribe to be taken into trust and made part of the Tribe's reservation. Gaming pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act would be prohibited. The Tribe intends to use the land for conservation purposes. According to the Tribe, the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains hold strong cultural and historical value to the Tribe. I appreciate the work of the Tribe and the bill's sponsor to advance this legislation.…”