Raúl Grijalva: “Upholding the establishment of Tribal homelands should be, and is, one of the most important actions that this Congress…”

“Upholding the establishment of Tribal homelands should be, and is, one of the most important actions that this Congress can take. It is not just about tax-exempt status or economic development, both of which are vitally important to Tribal communities. It is also about the construction of schools, housing, clinics, elder care facilities, things that are extremely vital to the quality of life and well-being of Tribal members. It is also about recognizing a Tribe's historical, cultural, and spiritual connection. It is not about protecting a market share. It is not about the tweets from the President. It is not about the scare tactics and hysteria of off-reservation gaming that is constantly used in trying to fight the self-determination and the ability of Tribes to take care of themselves. And it is about identity. I want to just follow up on the gentlewoman from Kansas' comment. To ensure Tribal sovereignty and self-governance, land is critical to the connection of people to their land. And the real-world decisions that we are making have real consequences. To strip people of their land is to strip them of their identity, to strip them of their self-governance and their self-determination. It is a sad state that, nearly 400 years later, the Mashpee still have to fight for land that is rightfully theirs. But we can remedy that today. I want to thank our colleagues Mr. Keating and Mr.…”