Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, passage of H.R. 1491, which I am proud to cosponsor, will clear the way for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians to finally provide additional Tribal housing for their members. Only 17 percent of Tribal members and lineal descendants live in Tribal housing. In 2010, the Tribe purchased approximately 1,400 acres of ancestral land in an effort to provide suitable housing for the Tribe's members and their descendants. {time} 1645 Even though this land was taken into trust administratively in January of this year, a number of parties continue to file lawsuits appealing the decision. The Chumash leadership has been forthcoming in their desire to acquire this land only for additional Tribal housing, and they have attempted to be good neighbors by engaging local elected officials and groups to mitigate any and all concerns. It is a shame that it has almost taken a decade for this issue to be resolved, but we are now at a point where we can finally put an end to this process. Passage of H.R. 1491 will reinforce the Secretarial decision that put the land in trust and will also incorporate a memorandum of agreement between the Chumash Tribe and the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors in relation to the land. I congratulate the Chumash leadership for their work and persistence on this issue, and I thank the Santa Barbara County Board Supervisors for coming to this agreement.…”