Jim Saxton: “H.R. 946 would restore Federal recognition to the Indians of the Graton Rancheria of California. The Graton Rancheria is…”

“H.R. 946 would restore Federal recognition to the Indians of the Graton Rancheria of California. The Graton Rancheria is one of over 40 Indian tribes which were terminated in 1958 by Public Law 85-671. Today there are approximately 355 members of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria living in the general vicinity of Santa Rosa, California. H.R. 946 provides that the service area for the tribe shall be Marin and Sonoma Counties, that nothing in the legislation shall expand, reduce or affect any hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering or water rights of the tribe, that real property eligible for trust status shall include certain Indian-owned land, and that the Secretary of the Interior shall compile a membership roll of the tribe. This bill also provides for an interim tribal council, the election of tribal officials, and the ratification of a constitution for the tribe. Section 5(d) of H.R. 946 provides that real property taken into trust for the benefit of the tribe pursuant to the bill shall not have been taken into trust for gaming purposes pursuant to section 20(b) of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.”