Bill Keating: “I thank the chairman for yielding, and I thank the chairman for all his hard work on this bill and so many others that…”

“I thank the chairman for yielding, and I thank the chairman for all his hard work on this bill and so many others that are related to this. I also want to thank the Natural Resources subcommittee chair and ranking member, Mr. Gallego and Mr. Cook. I want to thank my colleague from Massachusetts who has worked so hard and is a cosponsor, Mr. Kennedy. I also want to give particular thanks to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole) for his support and also voice my strong support for H.R. 375, the bill that was just debated that is well thought out, well worked through--over a decade--and well worth the support of everyone here. Mr. Speaker, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe has resided in southern New England for more than 12,000 years. To not have their land federally recognized is simply a disgrace. We have seen them in our history books, in historical paintings, in iconic murals. They are the Tribes that welcomed the Pilgrims for the first Thanksgiving. This President even put them in his own Thanksgiving proclamation just last year. He recognized them. Tragically, like so many Native Americans, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe has lived through centuries of injustice, the latest of which this House is debating today. For years, I have worked personally with the Tribe as they have used hard-earned Federal recognition to provide adequate housing, jobs, job training, and essential services, including native language learning, early childhood education. And this is important.…”