Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my friend Trent Franks' legislation, H.R. 2938. Ten years ago, stakeholders from across the State of Arizona gathered together to come up with a 21st-century plan to manage gaming activity. As part of that final agreement, many tribes agreed to forgo building a casino to share revenues as a whole. Gaming revenues were set aside for education, health care, and other measures to improve the lives of average tribal members. The key part of that compact was a tribal agreement that no new additional casinos would be permitted in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Tohono O'odham Nation agreed to those terms; but as they agreed to one thing publicly, they were preparing privately to undermine the entire agreement. The tribe has since acquired land in Glendale and has made it clear they intend to break their agreement and establish a casino on that land. This legislation ensures the Tohono O'odham Nation must keep the promise they made in 2002 to the other tribes, the State, and our constituents. Additionally, the small, but vocal, opposition to this legislation claims the bill before us seeks to unilaterally nullify an Indian water rights settlement. I assure my House colleagues that statement is false. Water rights associated with the Gila Bend reservation were settled in the Arizona Water Rights Settlement Act of 2004, not the Gila Bend Act. The passage of H.R. 2938 would not affect the State adjudication of water rights.…”