Political Quotes

“I am honored this evening to join with my colleagues on this important issue. A careful reading of history reminds us that the first Americans, whom we now call Native Americans and sometimes we call Indians, those whose ancestors walked the Trail of Tears, part of which is in my native State of North Carolina, those who suffered through broken promises from our government, and even as we stand here today in combat in Federal court with our Department of Interior over how to account for funds derived from lands that America allegedly set aside for Native Americans, we all know how important small businesses are all over our Nation and in every community, where they make up 75 percent of new employment and, by some figures, more than 90 percent of all new employers. The average unemployment rate of Native Americans, particularly those on the reservation, languishes today around 45 percent. That is unacceptable in modern America, when we keep in mind that the national unemployment rate in February of this year was 5.8 percent. Even more alarming, one-third of Native Americans currently live below the poverty line. And so that is why I am honored to stand with my colleagues in support of this important legislation which I understand was introduced and went forward last year but did not make it all the way. We are hopeful that we can pass this legislation in the House of Representatives and it can become law.”