Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I would first like to start by thanking the chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources as well as the sponsor of the bill for bringing this bill to the floor of the House today. These bipartisan bills affecting Native American Tribes and Nations in our country are very important and very significant for the Tribes that are seeking land into trust recognition. This bill itself is an example of how the various agencies and local entities within Tennessee worked together to come up with a compromise bill that can be supported by all. I look forward to having these bills actually get signed into law as they have passed in Congresses past. As noted, H.R. 548 is the Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act introduced by Representative Fleischmann of Tennessee. We noted that it is intended to take lands and easements into trust for the use and benefit of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Nation. As we pointed out, these include the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, the Chota Memorial, the Tanasi Memorial, and land to support these properties and cultural programs. We remember that the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is one of three federally recognized Cherokee Tribes and is the only federally recognized Tribe in North Carolina. The ability of the Tribe to take these lands into trust and then to be able to use them to preserve their cultural ties to the land is really significant.…”