Frank Pallone: “let me indicate my strong support for this legislation. It is an important piece of legislation that I think deserves…”

“let me indicate my strong support for this legislation. It is an important piece of legislation that I think deserves bipartisan support. The bill, as we know, seeks to secure land for Native Americans so they can provide desperately needed educational facilities to their young people. I believe that investing in education and Native American youth is something we can all agree upon. Specifically, the bill would direct the Secretary of the Interior to exchange approximately 143 acres, and I stress 143 acres, of land now under the control of the National Park Service for approximately 218 acres of land controlled by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Tribe. I would point out, and I know my colleague from Arizona mentioned part of this, in my opinion the National Park Service is actually benefiting from this land exchange because effectively they are getting more land. They are getting 218 acres, as opposed to having to give back to the Cherokee Nation 143 acres of land. In addition to that, the land that the National Park Service is getting is pristine. One could argue, it is actually better, and in a more pristine state, than the land that they are giving to the Cherokee Nation.”