Roger Wicker: “This is a simple bill which was approved in the Senate last week by unanimous consent. The bill does three things.…”

“This is a simple bill which was approved in the Senate last week by unanimous consent. The bill does three things. First, it moves all trust land taken for the benefit of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians since December 23, 1944, and makes it part of the Mississippi Choctaw Indian Reservation. Second, the bill takes all land owned in fee by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and incorporates it into trust land. And third, the bill makes these two provisions without affecting the statutes of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. All lands affected by this legislation are owned by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, with some parcels dating back many decades. During the past 20 years, the tribe has attempted time and time again to transfer the land through the regular process established by the United States Department of Interior and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Unfortunately, the Department has failed to act on these applications in an efficient and prompt manner. The applications filed by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians are supported by the State of Mississippi and the county and municipal governments in the vicinity of the property. What is at stake here are critically needed services for the tribe.”