Tribes routinely waive sovereign immunity, for instance, in contract cases, in bank financing structures, agreements.

the issue that we have before us is really one regarding the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

So when Proposition 202 went to the people, it was decided at that time that what would happen is that only the Native tribes would be able to game in Arizona.

The compact is the rule of law. IGRA is the rule of law.

740, a bill I introduced with Ranking Member Hanabusa, will authorize Sealaska, the regional Alaska Native Corporation for southeast Alaska, to finalize its 40-year old land settlement.

I respectfully renew our request to include H.R. 666 in the next legislative hearing agenda.

By permitting Sealaska to select its remaining entitlement lands from outside of the withdrawal boxes, the Sealaska bill would help Sealaska maintain jobs in rural and predominately Native communities.

It is critical that Sealaska complete its remaining land entitlement under ANCSA in order to continue to meet the economic, social and cultural needs of its Native shareholders.

I am proud to say that H.R. 666 is a bipartisan bill with 29 co-sponsors.

I strongly believe that the Sealaska Corporation has the best interest of its shareholders, some 20,000 Alaskan Natives, in mind when it proposed transferring ownership of lands into Tongass National Forest under H.R. 740.

I hope that this Subcommittee can assist the parties in finding a reasonable and agreeable solution.