Alan Simpson: “I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, 521 years ago, an explorer named Christopher Columbus sailed…”

“I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, 521 years ago, an explorer named Christopher Columbus sailed west from Europe in an attempt to find a new route to the East Indies. Instead, he landed in the Bahamas, and as the story goes, he named the local inhabitants ``Indians.'' I note the irony that today has been designated Columbus Day, and here we are debating a bill to reopen key parts of the government so the United States can honor the treaty obligations our forefathers made to the American Indians--the first Americans. The bill before us today is a good thing because it gives us an opportunity to continue to highlight the poverty and other hardships that exist today in Indian Country as a result of the long, complicated, and difficult history of relations between the United States Government and more than 500 other sovereign nations that were here long before we were. So while we recognize and honor Columbus for his impact on our own Nation's history, let us also recognize and honor the first Americans for their proud history and the sacrifices they made, and continue to make, for this great Nation. That is why I would encourage everybody to vote for this bill. Frankly, I hope this bill isn't necessary. I hope that we can find a resolution to the differences that exist between Republicans and Democrats and that we can reopen all the government, as Mr. Moran just stated is necessary. I agree with him fully.…”