Accepting the Request to Revoke the Charter of Incorporation of the Lower Sioux Indian Community in the State of Minnesota

Floor Speech

I ask today for consideration of the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act; that is, H.R. 3371-S. 2088. This would place 40 acres of tribally purchased land at the massacre site into restricted fee status.

Both the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe hold a very deep connection to this event. This is the Wounded Knee Massacre site. There were relatives coming from the Cheyenne River Tribe down to winter near Pine Ridge. That is where this event occurred, and it is one of the most terrible events in the history of the United States, where Native Americans were killed and they were left to freeze in a snowstorm.

As you all know, the Wounded Knee Massacre not only represents a low point in U.S.-Lakota relations, but it also serves as truly one of the darkest moments in our Nation's history.

To date, the Wounded Knee Massacre grounds remain a symbolic site, with Tribal members regularly visiting the area to honor the deceased.

In 2022, both Tribes purchased the 40 acres from a private owner in an effort to preserve the land. Shortly after the purchase, both Tribes signed a covenant holding that the property shall be held and maintained as a memorial and sacred site without any other development. This legislation, which simply places the 40 acres into restricted fee status, will help preserve the site for future Tribal generations.

As we approach the 134th anniversary next month of the Wounded Knee Massacre, it is my hope that we can come together to acknowledge this event and work to amend our history through reconciliation and mutual respect. Although we can't rewrite the past, the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act is one way to show healing and progress.

This legislation easily passed the House and has languished in the U.S. Senate for months. Passing this legislation during Native American Heritage Month is of great importance to Wounded Knee descendants from my home State.

Look, this is one of those areas where you have two Tribes that lost members, and their relatives are still there; they still honor that site. I agree that the other pieces of legislation that are here in front of us, I think, are good, and I think they represent some of the best work of the United States, where you set aside differences, you come together, and you pass good legislation. I believe this legislation fits that particular sect as well.

So, with that, I would simply ask the Senator that he would modify this request to include H.R. 3371, the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act.

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Mr. ROUNDS. Mr. President, look, I am very disappointed in my friend from North Carolina's approach to this particular issue. As Members of the Senate, we each have a task as to whether or not we will support different pieces of legislation.

I had chosen not to object to his legislation which he has been speaking about, and we have done our best to try to allay any concerns he may have about our future attempts to disrupt his approach. So it is very disappointing that he would hold as hostage this particular piece of legislation, which is of solid intent to help repair relations between the Oglala Lakota, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribes, and the Government of the United States in a way which does not impact his Tribe or the challenges he has with getting his Tribe recognized whatsoever. In fact, we have felt that by not objecting at this point-- and we have not--that he would understand how serious we were about trying to get our piece of legislation attached to this to fix the problem.

As an example, today--and to the chairman of the committee who has worked so hard to bring these forward, along with the ranking member--I have no intentions of standing in the way of them passing their solid legislation simply as a protest vote. I think we have to move forward and take the best that we can.

I will continue to try to work with the Member from North Carolina to assure him that if he will allow this piece of legislation to move forward, we would not be objecting to his legislation in the future. But if we can't have ours, I guess there is always the possibility that he will not be able to get his, as well.

I will not object to the original proposal.

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