George Miller: “This bill has strong bipartisan support. I urge its passage. Mr. Speaker, this bill as has already been noted, restores…”

“This bill has strong bipartisan support. I urge its passage. Mr. Speaker, this bill as has already been noted, restores the provision of BIA and IHS services to members of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma, a largely migratory band of Indians, who often reside for part of the year in Maverick County, Texas. Although Congress took steps in 1983 to ensure that all Kickapoos living in Texas would be eligible for federal services, there was internal political friction among the Kickapoos residing in Texas that resulted in the formation of the federally-recognized Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas in 1989. Some of the Texas Kickapoos, namely those who refused to acknowledge the leadership of the Traditional Tribe, chose instead to remain affiliated with the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma. The problem that we are addressing today is how to ensure that the Kickapoos in Texas who remain affiliated with the Oklahoma Tribe retain the full rights and benefits of the trust relationship with the United States.”