Our opponents say that the Lands Replacement Act could not have been intended to allow use of our replacement lands for gaming. But this is just not true.

The precedent issue continues to be one, Mr. Chairman. And while the settlement issue has to be, has to go through its process, this legislation I think is going to open up a box both of litigation, and inevitably, if the concern is about…

The fact that gaming is central to the debate doesn't take away my concern about the legal precedent that is being set here.

Let us walk back in history before we jump too far ahead.

Tribal leaders will make a good-faith effort to notify other tribal leaders if they believe that they cannot abide by this agreement.

Enactment of H.R. 2938 would create a very ugly precedent.

I think, to the point that was made regarding other land settlements that have the prohibition, the two that I worked on have been in cooperation and consultation with the tribes.

Unfortunately, the 109th Congress, under Republican leadership, allowed the program to expire.

The second bill, H.R. 2852, would require the American people to give away 24 million acres of public land.

One of the things, according to official statistics, sir, at one time in the history of our Federal Government, our nation owned 1.8 billion acres in this country.

This approach will not work, but more important, it will not gain enough support to pass.

H.R. 2852 is not an appropriate or workable solution to these challenges.