Political Quotes

“I, too, support this bill and urge its passage. We revisit this bill a second time because of two noncontroversial Senate amendments to our original bill which passed this House under suspension of rules on May 22 of this year. This bill takes the long overdue step of revoking the Prairie Island Indian community of Minnesota's Federal charter of incorporation issued under the archaic Indian Reorganization Act [IRA] in 1937. We take this step because only Congress can revoke this charter. Congress created the IRA in an attempt to remake tribal governments by giving them boilerplate constitutions and bylaws including provisions allowing tribal councils to conduct business enterprises pursuant to charters issued under section 17 of the IRA. The tribe received its charter in 1937. The charter has proven to be more of a hindrance than a help. For instance, the charter prevents the tribe from entering into contracts of more than $100 without secretarial approval. Basically, the charter is outmoded, burdensome, and more a vestige of 1930's paternalism than the current Federal policy of self-determination. Thus, the tribe has asked us to revoke their charter and we do so today.”