Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 810, introduced by Representative Fortenberry from Nebraska, would direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on the feasibility of designating the Chief Standing Bear National Historic Trail. The proposed trail would extend approximately 550 miles from Niobrara, Nebraska, to Ponca City, Oklahoma, tracing the route taken by Chief Standing Bear and the Ponca people during Federal Indian removal and their return to Nebraska. The trail would commemorate and elevate the story of Chief Standing Bear, including the trial and historic 1879 court case where he became the first Native American to be recognized as a person in a Federal court. The trail would memorialize the courage, honor, and fortitude of Chief Standing Bear and the Ponca people as they struggled to return to their homeland to bury the son of Chief Standing Bear--serving as a reminder of their fight to achieve justice, freedom, and equality. I would like to thank Representative Fortenberry for championing this important legislation and for his efforts to bring about a greater understanding of our U.S. history and Tribal sovereignty. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this good bipartisan bill, and I reserve the balance of my time. {time} 1345”