Gun Lake Trust Land Reaffirmation Act

Mr. President, I would like to announce that the Committee on Indian Affairs will meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, May 7, 2014, in room SD-628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a legislative hearing to receive testimony on the following bills: S. 1603, to reaffirm that certain land has been taken into trust for the benefit of the Match-E-Be-Nash- She-Wish Band of Pottawatami Indians, and for other purposes; S. 1818, to ratify a water settlement agreement affecting the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, and for other purposes; S. 2040, to exchange trust and fee land to resolve land disputes created by the realignment of the Blackfoot River along the boundary of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, and for other purposes; S. 2041, to repeal the Act of May 31, 1918, and for other purposes; and S. 2188, to amend the Act of June 18, 1934, to reaffirm the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust for Indian tribes. Those wishing additional information may contact the Indian Affairs Committee (202) 224-2251.

Committee on Indian Affairs

Mr. President, I would like to announce that the Committee on Indian Affairs will meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, May 14, 2014, in room SD-628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct an oversight hearing to receive testimony on: ``Indian Education Series: Ensuring the Bureau of Indian Education has the Tools Necessary to Improve.'' Those wishing additional information may contact the Indian Affairs Committee at (202) 224-2251.

Committee on Indian Affairs

Mr. President, I would like to announce that the Committee on Indian Affairs will meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, May 14, 2014, in room SD-628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct an oversight hearing to receive testimony on: ``Wildfires and Forest Management: Prevention is Preservation.'' Those wishing additional information may contact the Indian Affairs Committee at (202) 224-2251.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1603) to reaffirm that certain land has been taken into trust for the benefit of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatami Indians, and for other purposes.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, S. 1603 ratifies a decision of the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land and place it in trust for the Gun Lake Tribe of Michigan.

The 147-acre parcel of land, often called the Bradley Property, is located south of the city of Grand Rapids and within the district of our colleague from Michigan, the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Mr. Upton, who does support this legislation.

The Bradley Property is the site of a casino operated by the Gun Lake Tribe pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988. The Bradley Property must be held in Federal trust for the tribe to operate its casino.

This bill is necessary to confirm the trust status of the Gun Lake Tribe's land because the United States Supreme Court ruling holding in Carcieri v. Salazar casts doubt on the lawfulness of the Secretary's acquisition of the trust property.

The Gun Lake Tribe was recognized in 1999, but the Secretary acquired land for the tribe pursuant to the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. This act was intended to benefit tribes recognized and under Federal jurisdiction in 1934.

Mr. Speaker, the bill passed the Senate by unanimous consent, and the Department of the Interior supports the bill. I urge passage of S. 1603, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, I would like to announce that the Committee on Indian Affairs will meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, May 21, 2014, in room SD-628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct business meeting to consider the following bills: S. 1474, to encourage the State of Alaska to enter into intergovernmental agreements with Indian tribes in the State relating to the enforcement of certain State laws by Indian tribes, to improve the quality of life in rural Alaska, to reduce alcohol and drug abuse, and for other purposes; S. 1603, to reaffirm that certain land has been taken into trust for the benefit of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She- Wish Band of Pottawatami Indians, and for other purposes; S. 1622, to establish the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children, and for other purposes; S. 1818, to ratify a water settlement agreement affecting the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, and for other purposes; S. 2040, to exchange trust and fee land to resolve land disputes created by the realignment of the Blackfoot River along the boundary of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, and for other purposes; S. 2132, to amend the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self- Determination Act of 2005, and for other purposes; H.R. 2388, to take certain Federal lands located in El Dorado County, California, into trust for the benefit of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, and for other purposes. Those wishing additional information may contact the Indian Affairs Committee at (202) 224-2251.

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

(Mr. GRIJALVA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, since the Supreme Court's decision in 2009, the Carcieri decision, the status of Indian lands across the country have been undermined, and there has been an uptick in frivolous suits against tribal lands. One such lawsuit, the Patchak case, has put a Michigan tribe's trust land, upon which its casino supports approximately 1,000 much-needed jobs was constructed, very much in jeopardy.

S. 1603, the Gun Lake Trust Land Reaffirmation Act, simply affirms that the land taken into trust for the Gun Lake Tribe in Michigan is Indian land and is rightfully held in trust by the United States for the tribe's benefit. The bill passed the Senate by unanimous consent, and it passed House committee markup without event.

Mr. Speaker, I fully support this legislation, as does the tribe, the entire Michigan delegation, and the administration, and I look forward to its passing the House and being signed into law.

I am glad this bill has passed through the legislative process so quickly. That said, I think unless and until we have a Carcieri-fix legislation enacted, these types of piecemeal bills will become routinely needed to protect tribal lands that are rightfully held in trust.

I call upon all of my colleagues in this body and in the Senate to work together to obtain that fix.

With that, Mr. Speaker, we have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Gun Lake Trust Land Reaffirmation Act, a bipartisan bill that will preserve 1,000 jobs in Michigan's 6th district. I would like to thank Chairman Doc Hastings for allowing this piece of legislation to move forward through the Natural Resources Committee.

This bill is really quite simple. It merely reaffirms the U.S. Department of Interior's action of taking this land into trust for the Gun Lake Tribe and prevents any future frivolous legal action on this matter.

On these lands, the Tribe opened a gaming and entertainment facility that has created over 1,000 jobs. For a small community, really for any community, 1,000 new jobs is an incredible feat. The local government and schools also benefit from the facility's revenues. This is quite the advantage in a time when municipalities are slashing services due to deficits. Reaffirmation of this land into trust has the utmost support of our local law enforcement, elected officials, and business leaders.

The Gun Lake Trust Land Reaffirmation Act is a good thing for the folks in my district and it is just the right thing to do. I urge you to help pass legislation that will allow jobs to flourish and provide resources for our schools and communities.