Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and I rise in strong support of S. 2906, a bill introduced by Senator Cantwell that is the companion to H.R. 4401, which I introduced in the House last year. S. 2906 amends the Indian Long-Term Leasing Act for the benefit of three federally recognized Tribes in the State of Washington: the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, the Kalispel Tribe of Indians, and the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, which is in my district. Specifically, this legislation amends the leasing act to allow the Puyallup Tribe and the Kalispel Tribe to enter into 99 year business leases. Currently, these Tribes are limited to 25 year business leases. Additionally, S. 2906 eliminates the requirement that the Puyallup Tribe, the Kalispel Tribe, and the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community seek the approval of the Secretary of the Interior for every business deal involving tribal lands. Under S. 2906, the Tribes will adopt leasing regulations, to be approved by the Department of the Interior. Once the Department approves the Tribal regulations, the Department will be relieved of its obligations to approve the Tribes' leases of less than 75 years and the Tribe will then be required to follow its own leasing regulations for leases of its land. The Department will still retain the authority to review and approve leases of Tribal lands for more than 75 years.…”