Gila Bend Indian Reservation Lands Replacement Clarification Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. MARKEY. I thank the gentleman from New Mexico.

H.R. 2938 should not have been brought to the House floor under suspension of the rules. This legislation doesn't name a post office or authorize a park study. H.R. 2938, instead, is a highly controversial piece of legislation that will amend a settlement agreement between the United States and an Indian tribe, impose restrictions on a tribe's authority to use its own land, and circumvent years of Federal and State court rulings.

During consideration by the Natural Resources Committee, members from both sides of the aisle expressed concern with this measure. House Members have heard from tribes across the country, Arizona State legislators, local mayors, small business owners, and community leaders on both sides of this issue. The number of stakeholders with strong feelings on both sides of this issue is plain evidence that the bill does not belong on suspension.

So we're here tonight, and the implications for local, regional, and national gaming industry precedents are quite significant. We should only bring suspension-worthy bills out here on the floor. I say that because Mr. Grijalva from Arizona, whose tribal constituents are the sole target of this legislation, is being denied this opportunity and, therefore, any chance to address his constituents' needs. And I think that since it does affect his district, his tribe, he's on the Natural Resources Committee, he deserves the right to be able to make amendments that can improve this legislation, and he is not going to be allowed to do that.

So that is my view on this bill, that it's under the wrong process. Suspensions are really meant for bills that do not bring the level of complexity and the level of controversy that a bill like this brings to the House floor, and as a result, I urge a ``no'' vote.

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