Revocation of Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Charter

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, at the request of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, H.R. 533 simply revokes a corporate charter issued to it by the Federal Government.

Under the Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act and the Indian Reorganization Act, many tribes were issued corporate charters in the 1930s and 1940s that were aimed at enabling them to better manage their own affairs and pursue business relationships with private entities.

For some tribes, these corporate charters have proven unnecessary and end up hindering their business opportunities, as they will inevitably come up in negotiations with private entities and are looked upon with suspicion.

The charter must be revoked by an act of Congress, and Mr. Mullin, on behalf of his constituents, is simply being a good Congressman and complying with the tribe's request through this bill.

Similar legislation has passed over the years without event, and I ask my colleagues to stand with me in support of Mr. Mullin's noncontroversial bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. Speaker, I rise to extend my gratitude to the Congressman from Oklahoma for teaching me how to say ``Miami.'' I have been mispronouncing ``Miami'' all through my short presentation. I also want to thank him for his leadership and being so responsive.

I think that there are perhaps many other laws on the books that we should look at in a very simple way to revoke the charters, as necessary.

I would also like to offer my help to the Congressman from Miami with our two Virginia Senators. It sounds like, if it passed this House with only one negative vote last year, that perhaps the Senate is the place where this is being held up. If we can provide some support to him in his moving this through the Senate side, I would be delighted to do that.

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