On the recordDecember 5, 2011
The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo was originally based in New Mexico and then relocated after the 1860 Pueblo Revolt to its present location in El Paso County, Texas. In 1967, Congress enacted Public Law 90-287, terminating the Federal trust relationship with the tribe and placing the tribe under the jurisdiction of the State of Texas. In 1987, the Federal trust relationship was restored by Public Law 100-89. The Restoration Act limited the tribe's membership to individuals listed on a certain tribal membership roll and to descendants of such individuals as long as they have a minimum of one-eighth degree of Ysleta del Sur Indian blood. In recent years, the tribe has passed resolutions in favor of legislation to eliminate this limitation which is consistent with the modern congressional policy of allowing recognized tribes to set their own membership when they enroll Indian people. H.R. 1560 permits the tribe to enroll Indian members with a minimum blood requirement. Similar versions of this bill have been passed by the House in the last two Congresses. The Committee on Natural Resources has not heard any objection to passing this bill again. I think it's a good idea to treat the tribe consistently with how Congress treats other federally recognized tribes. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
