To allow the Pascua Yaqui Tribe to determine the requirements for membership in that tribe.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I appreciate Chairman Bishop's indulgence at this point.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3319, a bill that would authorize the Pascua Yaqui Tribe to set its own membership criteria by replacing congressionally mandated criteria that artificially limited enrollment to certain Yaqui people based on application deadlines and other requirements that do not reflect tribal input.

H.R. 3319 reflects the modern congressional policy of allowing federally recognized tribes to set their own membership criteria. The bill eliminates current membership requirements imposed by statute and replaces them with a requirement that members possess any degree of Indian blood as determined by the tribe. The Pascua Yaqui Tribe, like all federally recognized tribes, has the inherent right to determine its own membership without restrictions imposed by the Federal Government.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support the passage of H.R. 3319, and I yield back the remainder of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3319) to allow the Pascua Yaqui Tribe to determine the requirements for membership in that tribe, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, since I doubt very seriously if I can get through any kind of statement and say ``Pascua Yaqui'' Tribe accurately, it would be my intent, if I could, to yield 10 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona to explain his bill. It's a good bill, we support it, and he can say it properly.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, the House actually passed a bill similar to this on tribal membership that recognized a tribe in Texas last year, so there is precedent for this event. I would therefore have no objection to the passing of this resolution today and urge Members' support of it.

With that, I yield back all the remainder of the time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 3319 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements relating to the measure be printed in the Record as if read.