Rob Bishop

These guys have all given you examples of how the present system with the Department of the Interior has not been transparent, has been politicized.

That is what we are trying to do with this thing.

Since it appears the political branch understands recognition is a political matter, would you agree that it is more constitutionally proper for that recognition decision to be made in Congress?

If already under this rule they are re-allowing, renegotiating people who have been denied, is there anything in what we are doing in the status quo within the Department of the Interior that would stop a future assistant secretary from…

I don't care what the game I have to play is, I just want to know what the ball looks like.

Congress has plenary power, in terms of its relations with the Indian tribes. So, I do not have any constitutional concerns.

The transparency is when it comes here in a political process, where we do things in an open committee meeting.

I am still open to those ideas, if you will be happy to send them to me.

I actually have some of the Utah Native Americans that are in my office that I need to meet with.

One of the reasons why I would like this in statute is so we know exactly what the game is, what the ball looks like, and it is listed in statute.

I cannot find the reference to which you say you have that power in there.

I appreciate you wanting to explain here. I do not have much time.

I suggest, respectfully, that we ought to really look at the big picture if we truly want to help the American Indians-- or just talk about it.

It is time for a paradigm shift, and it is time to actually have the agencies working with Congress, not opposed to Congress.

I would hope you would admit that if we put the criteria in statute, it has far more power and clarity than if it was simply in a regulation.

I would like to actually listen to the Native Americans themselves, get some testimony toward that.

I appreciate the concept. You have memos. They are not the same thing as statute.

Do you consider any tribes have been unlawfully recognized?

It may be cumbersome, it may be uncomfortable, but it is congressional responsibility.

The Constitution clearly says in the Indian Commerce Clause that Congress has the authority over Indian affairs.

What I am trying to do here is find out a way.

I am just brainstorming here. I am not advocating that position, but it is an option that should be on the table.

I want to make sure that we have safeguards in there for commercial, charter fisheries.

As I understand it, the bill's premise is that the states can do a better job than the Federal Government in managing our fishery resources, which is, admittedly, a low bar.

I do not actually allow that in my committee, because I think it is important that the Administration--or any administration, actually--sits at the same table with those people over whom they make decisions.