Floor Statements

I thank the gentlelady for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2786 as amended by the Senate, a bill to reauthorize the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act called ``NAHASDA.'' I'm happy to be the chief sponsor of this very important legislation.

NAHASDA, enacted in 1996, was the first piece of comprehensive housing legislation directed solely to Native American and Alaska Native people. It has become the basic program aiding Native Americans in tribal areas with affordable housing development including home ownership, rehabilitation, infrastructure development and other affordable housing assistance. The success of NAHASDA is clear.

Since its enactment, thousands of housing units have been constructed or are in development. Despite this record, however, there is still a substantial unmet need for housing units, a need that continues to grow for one of the fastest growing population groups in the country.

More than 90,000 Indian families are homeless. Nearly 12 percent of families living on Indian reservations lack plumbing, and 14 percent lack electricity. Twelve percent of these families live without safe and reliable water supply.

This bill, which is based largely upon the recommendations made by the Native American Indian Housing Council, has bipartisan support. I want to thank my colleagues, Chairman Barney Frank, Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Congressman Mel Watt, as well as my Republican colleagues for their support on this legislation. I also want to thank Senator Dorgan, Senator Murkowski, Senator Dodd, and Senator Shelby for all their hard work on this legislation.

Its primary objective is to improve housing conditions in Indian country. Building upon the basic framework of NAHASDA, the bill will give tribes greater flexibility in meeting the housing needs of their tribal citizens. To that end, the bill creates a self-determination program which authorizes tribes to set aside a portion of their annual NAHASDA grant funding to better address their construction, acquisition, rehabilitation and infrastructure needs.

A year before the next NAHASDA authorization, in 2013, HUD would report to Congress the result of this new program. Among other revisions, this bill will make certain that tribes can compete for HOME Investment Partnerships Act funds, removes competitive procurement rules and procedures for purchases and goods under $5,000, makes Federal supply sources through the GSA more accessible to tribes, recognizes tribal preference laws in hiring and contracting, allows tribes to carry over NAHASDA funds to a subsequent grant year, and permits tribes to establish a reserve account of the tribe's annual NAHASDA grant.

Mr. Speaker, this reauthorization bill will build upon the success of NAHASDA by providing more housing development on our Nation's Indian reservations.

I would like to thank the staff, the Republican and Democratic staff members who have worked so hard on this; in the House, Kimberly Teehee, Dom McCoy, Cassandra Duhaney, Hilary West, Jeff Riley, Cindy Chetti, Tallman Johnson, Aaron Sporck and Jonathan Harwitz; over in the Senate, Allison Binney, Heidi Frechette, Jenn Fogel-Bublick, Mark Calabria, David Mullon and Jim Hall.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Reverend James Edward Walker, Jr., for 35 years as the pastor of Faith Gospel Temple Church of God in Christ. Reverend Walker will be honored at a dinner on September 27th in my hometown of Flint, MI.

Reverend Walker was called to the ministry in July 1972. He was installed as the pastor of Faith Gospel Temple Church of God in Christ the following January. For the past 33 years he served under Bishop P.A. Brooks in the Northwest Michigan Diocese, and Reverend Walker was elevated to Superintendent in the Church of God in Christ in 1984. In this capacity, he oversees 3 churches in Flint and Saginaw.

Two passages of Scripture embody Reverend Walker's ministry, Hebrews 13:2 ``Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unaware'' and Luke 6:35 ``. . . do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again.'' In his work with Flint Community Schools, the homeless, persons in need, the hungry and persons facing life crises, Reverend Walker strives to help everyone with both temporal and spiritual assistance.

Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Reverend James Walker, Jr., for 35 years of spreading the joy of Our Lord Jesus Christ to the distressed and needy. May he continue his ministry for many, many years to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. Suresh Anne. Dr. Anne is the President of the Genesee County Medical Society. He will be honored at the Genesee County Medical Society and Genesee County Medical Society Alliances Presidents' Ball on November 1st in Flint, MI.

After graduating from the Andhra Medical College in Andhra Pradesh, India, Dr. Anne practiced medicine in India. He was the Resident Medical Officer for a construction company in Amman, Jordan before coming to the United States. After completing a residency in Internal Medicine at Hurley Medical Center and a fellowship in Allergy/ Immunology at the State University of New York, Dr. Anne returned to Flint and established a practice in the Flint area. He belongs to numerous professional associations and has received many awards for clinical research. Dr. Anne is currently involved in a treatment study for hereditary angioedema.

In addition to his practice, Dr. Anne is an open consultant at the Genesee County Free Medical Clinic, sees patients at the five hospitals in the Flint and surrounding areas, and teaches at the NRI Academy of Sciences Medical School and Hospital in Andhra Pradesh. He also cofounder of ``Medical Office Management Systems, Inc.'' a company dedicated to helping physicians manage the business and patient sides of their practices. Dr. Anne is also enthusiastic about cricket, and during 2006 helped to create the first cricket grounds in the Flint area. Married 25 years to Dr. Aruna Anne, the couple have a daughter, Lajari.

Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring the work and life of Dr. Suresh Anne. His dedication to the field of medicine is to be commended, and I wish him continued success for many years to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of Respresentatives to join me in congratulating Peggy Tortorice as she retires from the Genesee Intermediate School District Board of Education. A reception honoring Peggy will be held on October 8th in Flint, Michigan.

Peggy has served on the Genesee Intermediate School District Board of Education since July 1, 1977. During this time she spent 8 years as the board's president. Prior to her service with the Genesee Intermediate School District, Peggy served on the Clio Board of Education from 1967 to 1976. During her tenure, Peggy worked tirelessly to achieve a productive educational environment for students throughout Genesee County. She was influential in the development of Mott Middle College, Genesee County's Network for Education Telecommunications, the Health, Safety and Nutrition Service Department, and the Genesee Early College on the campus of the University of Michigan-Flint.

Peggy is a member and president of the Genesee County Education Foundation. She is a member of the Genesee County Association of School Board Members, a member of the Michigan Association of School Boards, and the National School Boards Association. The Michigan Association of School Boards

has bestowed their Award of Merit, Award of Distinction, Master Board Member Award, Master Diamond Award, Master Platinum Award and the President's Award of Recognition on Peggy.

Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in applauding the work of Peggy Tortorice. The students of Genesee County owe her a debt of gratitude for her vision, commitment, and dedication to improve the climate of learning. She has provided an example and inspiration to educators everywhere and I wish her the best as she enters this next phase of her life.

Madam Speaker, on February 27, 2003 at the occasion of Vera Rison's retirement I asked the House of Representatives to join me in congratulating her with the following:

. . . Vera Rison is one of my dearest friends. I treasure

her wisdom, her common sense, and her ability to go to the

heart of a dilemma and seek a solution. The many years she

spent working at Genesee Memorial Hospital gave Vera insight

into the problems faced by average families. She has never

stopped working to ease the burdens faced by so many. Through

the positions she held as chair of the Service Employees

International Union Local 79, director of human resources at

Amy Jo Manor Housing Complex, the Genesee County Community

Mental Health Board, the Substance Abuse Services Board and

the Jobs Central Workforce Development Board, Vera has always

maintained her vision and commitment to a better future for

everyone.

Through her work as a Genesee County Commissioner and a

State Representative, Vera was able to see some of her ideas

become concrete, working plans. She sponsored a bill to

reduce the number of abandoned houses. She also was the

driving force behind the renovation of the Amy Jo Manor

Housing Complex. In addition, Vera worked tirelessly for

individuals in trouble. She frequently advocated on behalf of

persons sentenced to prison. She arranged for basic services

to be provided for the handicapped and devoted many hours to

ensuring the uninsured received health care.

The Genesee District Library paid Vera an awesome

compliment when they named the Beecher branch of their

library the ``Vera B. Rison Library.'' It is a tremendous

tribute that the library, where all persons of every age can

come and improve their minds and lives through knowledge, is

named for the woman who spent a lifetime witnessing the

potential in all persons and pushed them to achieve their

personal best.

Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join

me in honoring a dear friend, Vera Rison. She is an

inspiration to me and I wish her the best as she starts the

next phase of her life.

These words are as true today as they were 5 years ago. Vera Rison has stood at the forefront in the fight for justice in our community. As a County Commissioner and as a State Representative she has worked for the welfare of the community as a whole and as individuals within that community. In her empathy for children, the homeless, workers, and the disenfranchised, Vera has given her time, energy and love to help each person achieve their life goals. The list of persons and organizations benefiting from Vera's help is extensive.

Madam Speaker, Vera Rison is one of the true giants of the Flint community. On October 3, Canaan Baptist Church will honor this remarkable woman at a reception in her honor. As a member of Canaan Baptist Church, Vera lives her faith daily with enthusiasm, joy, and pride. I am grateful for her friendship and her leadership and I pray that she will continue her work for many years to come.

Madam Speaker, it is with profound sadness that I announce the passing of Dr. Robert F. Knautz, the founding principal of the U.S. House of Representatives Page School. ``Dr. K,'' as he was affectionately known by many of his former students, died on September 17, 2008, at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, MD. He left an indelible mark on the House Page School, the institution he was charged with creating in 1983. The House Page Program owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to Dr. Knautz for his vision for the School, his commitment to quality education, and his compassion for students.

Dr. Knautz was a proud son of the Land of Lincoln. He was born in Chicago, IL, and remained throughout his life a devoted fan of both the Cubs and the Bears. Dr. Knautz obtained his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Northern Illinois University, earning his bachelor's degree in political science in 1963 and his master's degree in the same subject in 1970. Dr. Knautz also received his Ph.D. in education administration from Northern Illinois in 1982.

Before joining the House Page School, Dr. Knautz spent nearly two decades as an educator and administrator. He taught fifth grade and sixth grade for 2 years each, eighth grade for 3 years, and high school for 3 years. Dr. Knautz made the transition from teaching to administration in 1973, first having dual responsibility for a kindergarten through third grade building and a high school because the two buildings were adjacent to each other. Later he accepted a position at Hiawatha High School in Kirkland, IL, where he served as principal for 7 years.

As a result of a series of reforms in 1983, the U.S. House created the House Page School. Dr. Knautz saw the advertisement for the House Page School principal opening, and applied for the opening. In late July 1983, he flew to Washington to interview. He was offered the job the same day, accepted, and had to move his young family to Washington, D.C. When Dr. Knautz first arrived he lived in the Congressional Hotel (which became House Annex I and was later renamed the O'Neill Building), on the same floor as summer pages, who were moved into the hotel the previous year.

Unlike most principals, Dr. Knautz had to literally create a school from scratch. Also, since the new House Page School was scheduled to open on September 6, 1983, he had only 5 weeks to do so. Dr. Knautz was not only responsible for developing the curriculum, hiring teachers, and cleaning the physical plant; he was also responsible for purchasing textbooks, ordering supplies, and obtaining furniture. Dr. Knautz worked 15-hour days for a month to complete the preparations for the school opening and also found a place for his family to live in his rare spare time.

For Dr. Knautz, being the founding principal at House Page School was one of his proudest professional moments. He served as principal of the House Page School for 18 years until he retired in 2001. Many of the curriculum ideas and school policies he developed are used today at the School.

Dr. Knautz is survived by his wife Mary, daughter Elizabeth, son Jon, brothers Ronald and Roger, and a host of nieces and nephews. He was a loving father, a caring husband, a gifted teacher and brilliant administrator, always putting his full faith in people. The House of Representatives is forever grateful for the service of Robert F. Knautz.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the personnel stationed at the Saginaw River Coast Guard Station. The Zion Lutheran Church of Bay City Michigan is holding a program and reception on October 12th to recognize the hard work of these dedicated service members.

The lighthouse constructed in 1842 was the first time the U.S. Coast Guard established a presence at the mouth of the Saginaw River. The original lighthouse was replaced in 1876 with the Saginaw River Rear Range Light and in 1939 it became the Coast Guard Station of the Saginaw River. The Coast Guard built a new Rear Range Light in 1964 and a new station across the Saginaw River from the original location in 1980.

Under the command of Gerald Backus, the station currently houses 27 active duty personnel and 5 reserve personnel. Their area of responsibility runs from Point Lookout to Oak Point along the Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron shore, and up river to Green Point in Saginaw. They are responsible for servicing 134 aids to navigation from Alpena to river buoy 89 at the Carrolton turning basin. The station averages 110 search and rescue runs a year. They work closely with State and local law enforcement and emergency personnel to coordinate response efforts. To fulfill their mission the station is home to 8 boats including a 20- foot ice rescue air boat and a 49-foot buoy utility stern loading boat.

The station is the ICCE, Ice Capabilities Center for Excellence, formal training site for the U.S. Coast Guard. The crew serves as the instructors in ice rescue procedures and policies during the ice season and is considered the subject matter specialists on the topic of ice rescue. The station averages 40 ice rescues a year.

Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in applauding the work of the Coast Guard personnel at the Saginaw River Coast Guard Station. Their commitment to the safety, security and welfare of the persons traveling on the waters of the Great Lakes is to be commended. I would like to congratulate them on a job well done and pray they will continue to serve for many years to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the three individuals being honored with the 2008 Walter Reuther Distinguished Service Award. On October 9th, the

United Auto Workers will bestow the award on Berteen Ewles, Jimmie Wells and Ron Lane.

The UAW presents the Walter Reuther Distinguished Service Award to those individuals that exemplify commitment to their union and their community. Walter Reuther believed in helping working people, human dignity and social justice and recipients of the Distinguished Service Award carry on Walter Reuther's ideals.

Berteen Ewles is the President of Local 1811. She is responsible for over 700 members scattered at 13 companies. She has been involved in the Technical, Office and Professional sector of the UAW since 1986. She is also active with the Greater Flint Area CAP Council, the Michigan Democratic Party, state-wide organizing, and contract negotiations. In 2007 she received a YWCA Woman of Achievement award on behalf of the UAW Region 1-C.

Jimmie Wells has been a member of the UAW since 1986. She has served as the Vice President of Local 1811, as President of TOP, she has served on the Executive Board, the Women's Committee, as an Alternative UAW Convention Delegate, on the Constitutional By-laws Committee and the Education Committee. In addition, Jimmie has extensive civic involvement in community-based organizations.

Ron Lane conceived the idea of union representation at FJ Grafik, Inc. in 1986. This vision led to the employees achieving their first UAW contract two years later. Ron has served the UAW as the Region 1-C IPS Council Vice President, the Council District Chair, the Local 1811 Sergeant at Arms, and the Bargaining Chair. He has served on several committees at both the Local and Region 1-C levels. He is the liaison for all union represented accounts and local officials accounts for FJ Grafik.

Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Berteen, Jimmie and Ron as they receive the Walter Reuther Distinguished Service Award. May they continue their work on behalf of workers for many, many years to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Charlotte Williams as she receives the first ``Making Democracy Work'' Award from the Flint Michigan League of Women Voters.

The League will honor Charlotte at an event on Wednesday, September 17th in Flint.

The League of Women Voters gives the ``Making Democracy Work'' Award to a Flint female community leader. Charlotte Williams was chosen to be the first recipient. Charlotte was elected as a Genesee County Commissioner in 1968. She was the first black female elected to the position. She went on to become the first female Chair of the Board. She became active in the National Association of Counties and served on several State and local committees. Her work with the National Association of Counties culminated in being elected president of that body in July 1978, and she served one term. Charlotte also chaired a workshop at a White House Conference on ``Balanced Growth and Economic Development'' and contributed to White House briefings during the terms of four Presidents. She retired from the Board of Commissioners in 1980.

Charlotte is the Vice Chairperson of the Board of Stewards at Quinn Chapel AME Church and has been an active member for 40 years, She has also worked as a Home Counselor in the Mott Foundation program and taught Bishop sewing classes.

Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to stand and applaud the work of one of the pioneers for political equality, Charlotte Williams. I commend her for her courage, insight, and work to improve the quality of life in Genesee County. May she continue her work for many, many years to come.

Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in congratulating the Michigan Commission for the Blind, Flint Office for celebrating 30 years of service to the blind and visually impaired. The office will gather to commemorate this anniversary at a party on October 30th in my hometown of Flint, Michigan.

The Michigan Commission for the Blind was created by Public Act 260 of 1978. The Commission operates its central office in Lansing, 8 field offices and a training center in Kalamazoo. As one of the field offices, the Flint Office provides service to clients throughout the Flint and Thumb areas of Michigan.

In carrying out their mission, the Michigan Commission for the Blind provides in-home services, mini-adjustment seminars, business services for employers, a vocational rehabilitation program, independent living for seniors over the age of 55, deafblind services, youth services and the business enterprise program. Their motto is ``Changing Lives, Changing Attitudes'' and their goals are for the blind and visually impaired to lead productive, independent lives as well as educating the general population about the capabilities of the blind.

The Flint Office plays an integral part in providing service and education to the community. For the past 30 years the 7 person staff has been committed to promoting the welfare and ability of the visually impaired so they can live and function in our society and in the workplace.

Madam Speaker, I am glad to have the opportunity to congratulate the employees, volunteers and clients of the Michigan Commission for the Blind, Flint Office as they celebrate 30 years of assistance to the blind and visually impaired of mid-Michigan. May they continue their service for many, many years to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute the Saginaw Michigan Fire Department. The Department celebrated 150 years of protecting the public at a celebration on September 6th in Saginaw.

The idea for a fire department in Saginaw was born in 1854 as the result of a tragic fire that year. Business leaders in the South and East Villages of Saginaw held initial organization meetings in 1857 and the fire department became operational in 1858. Originally a volunteer department with one Engine House, the first career fire fighters were employed full-time in the 1880s.

As the City of Saginaw grew so did the fire department. There are now four fire stations and the department is a member of the Regional Response Team Network created to respond to hazardous materials incidents. The Saginaw Fire Department employs technology in fighting fires through the use of ISI Breathing Air System, thermal imaging equipment, and onboard computerization in command vehicles. They also utilize a six-story fire-training tower.

The Saginaw Fire Department is active in fire prevention. They conduct fire safety education, maintain an Insurance Services Office insurance classification 3, enforce Fire Codes, and operate a Fire Safety House. The Saginaw Fire Department is committed to providing the highest level of service to the citizens of Saginaw.

Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Chief E. Dean Holland and the men and women of the Saginaw Fire Department for 150 years of protecting and safeguarding the public. Their courage and dedication are an inspiration to the community and may they continue their diligent service in safety for many, many years to come.

Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Judge Ramona Roberts as she retires as a Flint District Court judge. A celebration is planned for August 9th to honor Judge Roberts in Flint, Michigan.

Ramona Roberts graduated from Flint Northern High School in 1964 determined to become an attorney. She attended Flint Junior College, now Mott Community College, and graduated from Michigan State University with high honors. She obtained her Doctorate of Jurisprudence from University of Toledo--College of Law in 1980.

Before returning to her hometown of Flint, Judge Roberts spent time working in Ohio completing legal research. Back in Michigan she spent several years working for Legal Services of Eastern Michigan, UAW Legal Services and as a judicial assistant to former Genesee County Circuit Court Judge Earl E. Borradaile. She entered private practice sharing office space with LoLanda R. Johnson and the soon to be named Chief Genesee County Circuit Judge Archie L. Hayman.

She successfully ran for Judge of the 68th District Court in 1992 because she wanted to bring a woman's perspective to the bench. She has served the people of Flint in this capacity since then. In 1992 she was elected by the highest number of votes for any Flint District Court judge and has been reelected twice, unopposed. In addition to her judicial duties, Judge Roberts has also served as the Financial Secretary of the Judicial Council National Bar Association and in 2002 she was President of the Michigan District Judges Association. She is the past President of the Boys and Girls Club of Flint and their learning center is named in her honor.

Madam Speaker, please join me in wishing Judge Ramona Roberts the best as she enters this new phase of her life. The 68th District Court and the people of Flint are losing a wonderful public servant and a diligent legal mind with her retirement.

Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in honoring William J. Kowalski as he retires from the Federal Bureau of Investigation on August 1st.

William ``Bill'' Kowalski became a Special Agent in May 1983 after receiving his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Detroit in 1979 and his Juris Doctor from the University of Detroit School of Law in 1982. After taking the oath of office he trained at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia and began his Bureau career by returning to his hometown of Detroit.

After serving tours of duty in Memphis and New York City, Bill was promoted to a supervisory position at FBI Headquarters in 1989. In this capacity he was responsible for counter-intelligence and espionage investigations throughout the United States. He was one of the first FBI Agents to travel to Eastern Europe after the collapse of the Berlin Wall.

Returning to Detroit, Bill became a Field Supervisor in the Detroit Division in August, 1992. He assumed supervisory responsibilities in Flint and Ann Arbor. In September 2004 he was promoted to Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Division, overseeing the FBI Detroit's Joint Terrorism Task Force, with counter-terrorism investigation jurisdiction in the state of Michigan.

Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise and join me in applauding the exemplary work of William J. Kowalski. He has been a dedicated public servant, working to ensure the safety of the United States and its citizens for many, many years. I have appreciated his insight, his thoughtfulness and his commitment to performing his work and I wish him the best as he enters the next phase of his life.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the men and women of the Essexville-Hampton School District for their service on the district's boards of education. For over 50 years these men and women have been instrumental in shaping the minds and lives of Essexville-Hampton students. A reception will be held at Garber High School on July 14 to honor all the board of education members that served between 1957 and 2008.

Garber High School was named in honor of the Garber family. The family has a tradition of promoting education in the Essexville area and donated land to the school district. In keeping with this tradition, Melissa Garber, a family member, was the first female board of education member serving on the Essexville Board of Education in the 1890s.

The board members, past and present, that will be honored on July 14 are: Marilyn S. Abbs, Terrence R. Adcock, Bryan L. Augustine, Wilford D. Barber, Gary O. Bartow, Harold I. Blumenstein, Michael J. Brancheau, Richard D. Colony, Lowell R. Cuthbert, Frank

H. Davenport, John Debbink, Jennifer T. Duncan, John K. Duncan, Oscar Duyck, Reese Evans, E. Heric Fehrenbach, Victor A. Gansser, Lawrence R. Gordon, John W. Grigg, William F. Gross, Margaret A. Hanson, Mark M. Jaffe, Eugene H. Kramer, Bradford T. Light, Vagn A. Littrup, David A. Lovely, Clifford F. Mader, Ronald P. Maes, William R. Mahoney, John A. Martin, Donald J. Massnick, Margaret F. Morand, Karl D. Newingham, Austin P. Nickel, Frank C. Niemann, George L. Oliver, Gerald W. Pergande, Joseph E. Pergande, Charles C. Rochow, Michael D. Rowley, Daniel L. Santistevan, Jack A. Shaw, Robert N. Shuster, Richard J. Somalski, Melvin E. Steggall, Edward P. Trahan, Jill M. Urban, Gregory S. Wagner, Louis W. Westover, Dena J. Wirt, Gary Young, Eric W. Zimostrad, Gary N. Zube.

Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me and applaud the wonderful service provided by these board members since 1957. As a former teacher, I know first hand the impact boards of education have on shaping the curriculum, culture, and structure of our schools. I congratulate the Essexville-Hampton Board of Education for the work they have accomplished over the years.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the land claim settlement legislation relating to the Bay Mills Indian Community and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Michigan. I have considered several factors that, when taken together, would move me to speak strongly in favor of final passage.

First, the legislation before us has bipartisan gubernatorial support. In 2002, then-Republican Michigan Governor John Engler signed two separate agreements between the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe and the Bay Mills Indian Community in order to settle the disputed, and still disputed, land claims in the Charlotte Beach area of Michigan. And, in November of 2007, the present Democratic Governor, Jennifer Granholm, amended and reaffirmed these agreements, and she strongly supports those bills.

Second, my own hometown of Flint, Michigan, supports bringing an Indian casino to the city. Flint Mayor Don Williamson gave testimony through the Natural Resources Committee this year, expressing his strong support for these proposals. And the City Council of Flint passed a resolution supporting similar legislation that was followed by the people of Flint voting in a citywide referendum in support of bringing an Indian casino to Flint.

Mr. Speaker, faced with Flint's economic difficulties and the need to settle these Indian land claims, I strongly support this bill.

Under the settlement agreement, the Bay Mills Indian Community would acquire one parcel of land in Port Huron, Michigan, while the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe would acquire one parcel of land, the location to be determined by the tribe with the approval of the local governing body. That site would be limited to the County of Monroe or to the City of Romulus or to the City of Flint.

Finally, as has been spoken before, only Congress has the legal authority to extinguish the land claims of Indian tribes, and it has done so on several occasions, and that is why this bill is before us today. And that law dates back to the first Congress of the United States.

To summarize, two Governors of Michigan have signed compacts with these two tribes to accomplish this. The three cities that would be affected have voted to welcome these tribes, and the three Members of Congress representing those cities are strongly in support of this bill. This bill will bring justice to these Indian tribes, and it will help the economy of the cities involved.

I strongly urge my colleagues to support this legislation.