Federal Recognition of Confederated Tribes Commending Inez Sitter for Her Service to the United States

FEDERAL RECOGNITION OF CONFEDERATED TRIBES COMMENDING INEZ SITTER FOR HER SERVICE TO THE UNITED STATES -- (Senate - November 18, 2004)

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Indian Affairs Committee be discharged from further consideration and the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 423 and S. Res. 441, en bloc.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will state the resolutions by title.

The legislative clerk read as follows:

A resolution (S. Res. 441) expressing the sense of the Senate that October 17, 1984, the date of the restoration by the Federal Government of Federal recognition to the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians, should be memorialized.

A resolution (S. Res. 423) commending Inez Sitter for her service to the United States.

There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the resolutions, en bloc.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to, en bloc, the preambles be agreed to, en bloc, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the measures be printed in the RECORD.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

The resolutions (S. Res. 441 and S. Res. 423) were agreed to, en bloc.

The preambles were agreed to, en bloc.

The resolutions, with their preambles, read as follows:

S. Res. 441

Whereas the Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Restoration Act (25 U.S.C. 714 et seq.), which was signed by the President on October 17, 1984, restored Federal recognition to the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians;

Whereas the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians historically inhabited land now in the State of Oregon, from Fivemile Point in the south to Tenmile Creek in the north, west to the Pacific Ocean, then east to the crest of the Coast Range, encompassing the watersheds of the Coos River, the Umpqua River to Weatherly Creek, the Siuslaw River, the coastal tributaries between Tenmile Creek and Fivemile Point, and portions of the Coquille watershed;

Whereas in addition to restoring Federal recognition, that Act and other Federal Indian statutes have provided the means for the Confederated Tribes to achieve the goals of cultural restoration, economic self-sufficiency, and the attainment of a standard of living equivalent to that enjoyed by other citizens of the United States;

Whereas by enacting the Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Restoration Act (25 U.S.C. 714 et seq.), the Federal Government-

(1) declared that the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians were eligible for all Federal services and benefits provided to federally recognized tribes;

(2) provided the means to establish a tribal reservation; and

(3) granted the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians self-government for the betterment of tribal members, including the ability to set tribal rolls;

Whereas the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians have embraced Federal recognition and self-sufficiency statutes and are actively working to better the lives of tribal members; and

Whereas economic self-sufficiency, which was the goal of restoring Federal recognition for the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians, is being realized through many projects: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that October 17, 1984, should be memorialized as the date on which the Federal Government restored Federal recognition to the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians.

S. Res. 423

Whereas the United States, and subsequently the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, have operated a school at Hartshorne, Oklahoma, called the Jones Academy for more than 100 years, a facility that, since 1952, has provided residential services to predominately at-risk children from more than 20 Indian tribes throughout the United States who attend local, public school academic classes;

Whereas for approximately half that time, Mrs. Inez Sitter has been a vital part of that school and its efforts to educate American Indian children;

Whereas Mrs. Sitter came to the school in an administrative post in March of 1944 and progressed through various administrative capacities to be the Administrative Assistant at the school;

Whereas Mrs. Sitter formally retired from the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1983, after 39 years of service;

Whereas Mrs. Sitter immediately thereafter assumed the position as the Study Hall/Tutorial Coordinator for Jones Academy, the Library Services Coordinator, and the Director of the critically important Foster Grandparents program at the school, positions she has held to this day;

Whereas Mrs. Sitter, who is a member of many civic organizations, including the Hartshorne Edgewood United Methodist Church, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the American Legion Auxiliary, is known throughout the community for her extra work with students, including mentoring, tutoring, and preparation of homework and term assignments;

Whereas for such work she gained a position of advocate for the children of Jones Academy and the de facto position of liaison with the local public school in Hartshorne;

Whereas Mrs. Sitter, who resided with her family on campus, became a surrogate parent for hundreds of Jones Academy children;

Whereas Mrs. Sitter has been described by a colleague as "87 years young, and only 95 pounds, but with 60 years of service to the children of Jones Academy and the people of Hartshorne, the State of Oklahoma, and these United States"; and

Whereas the Bureau of Indian Affairs, recognizing her selfless and outstanding contributions, awarded Mrs. Sitter its Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Assistant Secretary Dave Anderson on August 3, 2004: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate commends Mrs. Inez Sitter for her outstanding service to the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, the State of Oklahoma, and the United States.