Political Quotes

“I would add, I would have preferred the consideration of this in an unamended form, but I am really pleased that it is before us on the suspension calendar. I do support the legislation. It is strongly supported by the tribal government at issue. At a time when we are encouraging economic self-sufficiency, the tribal government is eager to explore oil and gas development on tribal lands. Because this reservation wholly lies within the Williston Basin, an area where there has been a lot of successful oil development, their prospects are very good that they will receive leasing activity and the economic development that flows from that; that they will subsequently see oil development and also create a substantial number of jobs in the development of their oil resources. How cruel our existing policy has been relative to the development of leasing activity within Indian lands. By requiring, as we have done since the 1909 act, virtually every interest owner, no matter how minute, to have to be identified and have them sign off on the proposal, we have essentially shut Indian oil development down cold.”