NAN A. S. HAYWORTH: “Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4115 is a bill I have sponsored along with my friend and colleague, the gentleman from the State of…”

“Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4115 is a bill I have sponsored along with my friend and colleague, the gentleman from the State of Arizona (Mr. Flake), to resolve a problem affecting an Indian tribe in my district. It is basically a technical correction to a provision in existing law pertaining to leases and contracts on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Reservation which is located in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The need for this bill originates in the Act of November 2, 1966, and in subsequent amendments to related leasing laws affecting Indian lands. The Act of November 2, 1966, authorizes the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian community to put binding arbitration clauses into leases and contracts for business development on its reservation. Without such binding arbitration clauses, many investors would not be interested in doing business with the tribe because there would be no means of enforcing contracts. Unfortunately, an amendment to a related provision of law has made it unclear whether the tribe may put the binding arbitration clauses into all of its contracts and leases. This bill clarifies that the tribe may include binding arbitration clauses in all contracts for business developments on its reservation.”