Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo and Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas Equal and Fair Opportunity Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2208) to restore an opportunity for tribal economic development on terms that are equal and fair, and for other purposes.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 2208

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas Equal and Fair Opportunity Act''. SEC. 2. AMENDMENT.

The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama and Coushatta Indian Tribes of Texas Restoration Act (Public Law 100-89; 101 Stat. 666) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``SEC. 301. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

``Nothing in this Act shall be construed to preclude or limit the applicability of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.).''.
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Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, H.R. 2208, introduced by Representative Veronica Escobar from Texas, amends the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama and Coushatta Indian Tribes of Texas Restoration Act of 1987 to clarify that the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act applies to both the Pueblo and the Tribe.

The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas was federally terminated in 1954. This wrong was followed in 1968 by termination of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, also known as the Tigua Tribe. Congress rightfully restored both the Pueblo and the Tribe by enacting the aforementioned Restoration Act of 1987.

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was enacted just one year later, in 1988. The framework that it created should have applied to both the Pueblo and the Tribe, just as it did to every other Tribe.

However, since the Restoration Act was passed at a time when Indian gaming was just emerging and Federal regulations had not yet been implemented, it contains a section regarding gaming.

We know from the Congressional Record that the intent of this section of the Restoration Act was to clarify Indian gaming policy at the time, not to completely prohibit gaming on these lands in perpetuity.

But that is what is occurring. The language in the Restoration Act has been used by the State of Texas to repeatedly stymie the Pueblo's and the Tribe's ability to engage in class II gaming, much to the detriment of the economic health and well-being of both the Pueblo and the Tribe.

Additionally, the only other federally recognized Tribe in Texas, the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe, is allowed to operate a class II gaming facility, as they were restored by Congress in 1983, without any type of gaming restrictions.

H.R. 2208 remedies this inequality by clarifying that the Pueblo and the Tribe, like the Kickapoo, have the same rights and responsibilities under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act as virtually every other federally recognized Tribe in the United States.

This legislation confers no new or special rights to the Pueblo or the Tribe, nor does it in any way limit the existing rights of the State of Texas. This is simply a matter of parity and fairness, and I urge adoption of this legislation.

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Mr. SOTO. Escobar).

Mr. Speaker, I thank both Representative Escobar and Representative Gonzales for their leadership to right this wrong, this injustice.

I thank the dean of the House, Representative Young, for his very informative history lesson on the legislation. I also thank Ranking Member Westerman for his bipartisan support.

Mr. Speaker, I urge our colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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