2001CRH8386 EXPRESSING SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT AMERICANS SHOULD TAKE TIME DURING
no...@house.gov
[Congressional Record: November 27, 2001 (House)]
[Page H8386-H8391]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr27no01-62]
EXPRESSING SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT AMERICANS SHOULD TAKE TIME DURING
NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH TO RECOGNIZE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND
CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY NATIVE PEOPLES
Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 270) expressing the sense of
Congress that Americans should take time during Native American
Heritage Month to recognize the many accomplishments and contributions
made by native peoples.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Con. Res. 270
Whereas Native Americans were the original inhabitants of
the lands that now constitute the United States of America;
Whereas Native American governments developed the
fundamental principles of freedom of speech and separation of
powers in government, and these principles form the
foundation of the United States Government today;
Whereas Native American societies exhibited a deep respect
for the Earth and its resources, and such values are widely
held today;
Whereas Native Americans have served with valor in every
American conflict, from the Revolutionary War to the war
against terrorism, often serving in greater numbers,
proportionately, than the population of the Nation as a
whole;
Whereas Native Americans have made distinct and important
contributions to the United States and the rest of the world
in many fields, including agriculture, medicine, music,
language, and art;
Whereas Native Americans deserve to be recognized for their
individual contributions to American society as artists,
sculptors, musicians, authors, poets, artisans, scientists,
and scholars;
[[Page H8387]]
Whereas November has been declared Native American Heritage
Month because it is traditionally the month when Native
Americans harvested their crops and is generally a time of
celebratory feasting and giving thanks; and
Whereas, now, more than ever, Americans of all origins,
faiths, and beliefs need to come together as a Nation in
support of our people, our common values, and our republican
principles: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Congress--
(1) supports the goals and ideals of Native American
Heritage Month, and
(2) encourages Federal, State, local, and tribal
governments; interested groups and organizations; and the
American people to honor and recognize the accomplishments,
contributions, and heritage of Native Americans with
appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) and the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr.
Rahall) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth).
Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
As we gather here, returning from our Thanksgiving recess, I think it
is especially important to pause and consider the contributions made by
native peoples, by the first Americans, to our unique constitutional
Republic. Indeed, Mr. Speaker, I am honored to represent the Sixth
Congressional District of Arizona. At the outset of the formulation of
this sixth district, nearly one quarter of the constituency is Native
American.
Especially at this time in our history, when once again the winds of
war blow across our planet, and our Nation is involved in protecting
our constitutional Republic, it is worth noting that more than any
other ethnic or racial group, Native Americans answer the call to duty
in our Nation's Armed Forces. Indeed, the contributions of many have
been highlighted. Just a few months ago, our Commander in Chief joined
us here at the Rotunda of the Capitol to memorialize and recognize the
Navajo code talkers, those so vital to our victory in the Pacific
theater.
I think of Ira Hayes, and what would now be the Gila River Indian
community, then simply noted as a Pima Indian, one of those proud
Marines who raised our Nation's flag during the battle of Iwo Jima,
forever memorialized in the Marine Memorial.
It is incumbent on each of us to recall not only the actions of today
but what has transpired in our past, all of it, including what every
schoolchild learns of the first Thanksgiving, and the real contribution
of the first Americans to those European settlers and their survival
and their recognition of a new start in a new land.
In passing this legislation, the House of Representatives will
encourage Federal, State, local and tribal governments, as well as all
the American people, to join us in honoring and recognizing the
accomplishments, contributions, and heritage of our Nation's Native
Americans.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in support of the pending resolution to recognize the
accomplishments and contributions of American Indians and Alaskan
Natives during this month designated as National American Indian
Heritage Month.
Native Americans continue to honorably contribute and serve our
Nation in virtually every field imaginable, including medicine,
education, the arts, the justice system, and scientific research.
Tribal members have valiantly fought in every American military action
from the Revolutionary War and continue today in the war against
terrorism and elsewhere around the world. It is right that we honor
their work and contributions.
If this Congress truly wants to honor Native Americans, however, we
need to do it by honoring our treaties and past commitments made to
them. The Federal Government took control as legal trustee of Indian
trust lands, promising to protect the lands, produce and collect
revenue derived from them, and invest and manage all revenue. We have
failed miserably in this task, and we continue to pile bad policy upon
bad policy, leaving proper management of some 1,500 tribal and over
300,000 individual Indian trust fund accounts hanging in limbo.
The mismanagement of Indian trust funds dates back almost 100 years
and only gets worse with each passing day. The Reagan administration
listed this as one of the top five Federal liabilities. Yet today, the
Department of the Interior cannot tell us if the accounts have the
correct money in them, if the money is invested correctly, or even if
the names of the accounts are correct.
Just last week, the Secretary of the Interior announced she was going
to create a brand new agency to deal with trust funds. Unfortunately,
this decision was made without consulting with the account holders or
the Congress. In fact, details of this brand new agency are almost
nonexistent, so we do not know if this is a good answer or just another
hastily thrown together concept.
I want to impress upon my colleagues that this is not just some
messed up pile of Federal funds. These are funds, billions of dollars,
belonging to Indian tribes and American Indians who depend on these
revenues to pay rent and buy medicine and foods.
Imagine if our banks sometimes correctly deposited our income into
our accounts and sometimes did not, but then could not tell us what
they did with the money or denied ever receiving it. Imagine if the IRS
lost billions of dollars slated to be refunded to taxpayers. Imagine if
the Department of Transportation sent billions of highway trust fund
dollars to the wrong States. Imagine if billions of dollars of Social
Security checks owed to senior citizens in each of our districts were
unaccounted for. These events would make the front page of every
newspaper in the Nation and would quickly be reconciled.
I say that if we truly want to honor Native Americans, it is
incumbent upon the Federal Government to restore the word ``trust''
when it comes to the management of tribal trust assets once and for
all.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support the pending resolution, but I
would be much more proud if this Congress would put some muscle behind
the idea of honoring Native Americans, not just this month but every
month, by ensuring that the Federal Government's trust responsibilities
to these people is being honored.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
My friend from West Virginia, Mr. Speaker, encapsulates a problem
with which this government has been dealing for nearly a century.
Indeed, my good friend from Michigan joined me in cochairing a task
force dealing with the disposition of these trust funds; and I would
hope that, for the record, we would show, as we articulated some years
ago, that this problem has been one sadly of bipartisan neglect.
Indeed, a circuit court judge found a previous Secretary of the
Interior in contempt as well as a Secretary of Treasury, and I think
that has extended to other administrations. So, yes, we welcome the
opportunity in a nonpartisan fashion to solve this legitimate problem.
As I have often reflected, Mr. Speaker, when we come to this floor,
we may line up on different sides of the aisle, we may have an R or a D
beside our names, but there are really only two types of people who
serve in the Congress of the United States, those who represent what we
now call Indian country, and those who represent what was once Indian
country.
So in that nonpartisan spirit, I look forward to working with the
gentleman from West Virginia.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr.
Cannon), who occupies one quarter of the Four Corners area.
Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank my colleague from Arizona
for bringing forward this resolution, and I would also like to
associate myself with his comments in respect to the trust funds and
the problems in administering those that have existed for a very long
period of time, and which I believe this administration is trying to
resolve and we want to support them in doing that.
I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 270. This
resolution expresses the sense of Congress that Americans should take
time during the
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month of November to recognize the various accomplishments and
contributions made by Native Americans. While many of my colleagues
will take this opportunity to speak of the many accomplishments and
contributions of Native Americans, I would like to mention one
particular area in which Native Americans have made an important and
often overlooked contribution to our country, and that is in their
continued willingness to serve and sacrifice in the defense of our
country.
Native Americans have participated with distinction in the United
States military actions for more than 200 years. From the Revolutionary
War to the American Civil War, to Vietnam, to the Persian Gulf, Native
Americans have showed a continued willingness to serve. In each of
these conflicts, Native Americans have served with valor, patriotism,
and courage.
As a proportion of the population, Native Americans have sent more of
their sons to war than any other ethnic group. One estimate is that
over 12,000 American Indians fought in World War I. In World War II,
more than 44,000 American Indians, out of a total Native American
population at that time of less than 350,000, served with distinction
in both Europe and the Pacific theaters of war.
{time} 1815
Today, there are nearly 190,000 Native American military veterans.
Indeed, history shows that Native Americans have disproportionately
shouldered the military burden of this country. At the bare minimum,
this legacy of service and sacrifice deserves our utmost respect and
honor.
One of the most striking examples of Native American military service
can be found in the history of the World War II Navajo code talkers.
The Navajo Code Talkers Program was established in September, 1942.
The idea came from Philip Johnston, the son of a missionary to the
Navajos and one of the few non-Navajos who spoke their language
fluently. Johnston, reared on the Navajo reservation, was a World War I
veteran. He knew the military's search for a code that would withstand
all attempts to decipher it.
He believed the Navajo language answered the military requirement for
an indecipherable code because Navajo is an unwritten language, it is
complex, and has no alphabet or symbols. It is only spoken only on the
Navaho lands of the American Southwest. One estimate is that less than
30 non-Navahos, none of them Japanese, could understand the language at
the outbreak of World War II.
During the 3 years the Navajo code talkers participated in the war,
Japanese intelligence was able to break almost every U.S. Army code and
Army Air Corps code, but not once was it able to break the Navajo code.
Eventually, over 400 Navajo Marine code talkers served in World War
II. These code talkers participated in every assault the Marines took
part in from late 1942 to 1945. After the war, many military officials
admitted battles such as Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Peleliu
would have been lost without the Navajo code talkers.
Long unrecognized because of the continued value of their language as
a security classified code, the Navajo code talkers of World War II
were recently honored for their contributions to our Nation's defense
in Washington, D.C. Their patriotism, resourcefulness, and courage also
have earned them the gratitude of all Americans.
As a representative of Utah's Congressional Third District, I
represent at least six Indian tribes. They include the Northwestern
Shoshone, the Goshutes, the Paiutes, the Utes, the White Mesa or
Southern Utes, and the Navajos. I feel that these tribes, as well as
the descendents of the Navajo code talkers and all other Native
American veterans, deserve our respect and appreciation.
Mr. Speaker, I support House Concurrent Resolution 270.
Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute.
Mr. Speaker, to respond to the gentleman from Arizona, I want to work
closely with the gentleman on this issue. I am sorry if he got
defensive, but I cannot see in my remarks where I was partisan. Perhaps
I should have spoken a little slower when I said the mismanagement of
Indian trust funds dates back almost 100 years. I do not believe that
the gentleman's party has been in power that long, and it covers a
number of administrations. It gets worse with each passing day.
I further said, the Reagan administration, and perhaps I should have
added ``to its credit,'' listed this as one of the top five Federal
liabilities. If the gentleman interpreted my remarks as being partisan,
I regret that misinterpretation of my remarks.
I have written the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) under whose
jurisdiction all Indian issues come directly before our full committee
and requested a hearing on this and look forward to participating with
the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth).
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee), who
has long been an advocate for Indian tribal rights.
Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, as co-chair of the Congressional Native
American Caucus, I rise in strong support of House Concurrent
Resolution 270, a resolution that expresses a sense of Congress that
Americans should take time during Native American Heritage Month to
recognize the many accomplishments and contributions made by Native
American peoples.
I thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth), who serves as
Republican co-chair and co-founder of the Congressional Native American
Caucus, for introducing this important resolution, and I am proud to be
a cosponsor with him.
Mr. Speaker, honoring the accomplishments and contributions of Native
Americans is long overdue. In July, as many of us stood in the Rotunda
and saw the President present the Congressional Gold Medal to those who
did so much and who suffered so much.
I am convinced, Mr. Speaker, that my brother, Kenneth Kildee, would
have been killed in the South Pacific were it not for the Navajo code
talkers. It is time that we express our gratitude to all Native
Americans for contributions that they have made during times of war and
conflict.
Native Americans serve in the United States armed services in greater
numbers, proportionately, than the population of the Nation as a whole.
Mr. Speaker, Native Americans play a vital role in this country by
making many significant contributions in many fields, including
science, medicine, math, law, agriculture, music, language, literary
works and art.
Mr. Speaker, the United States works with the tribal governments on a
government-to-government basis, recognizing their sovereignty. We must
increase the quality of health care of Native Americans, improve
employment opportunities, boost economic development on Indian
reservations, and develop better educational opportunities for Indian
students. We must do these things so that the generations to come will
have a brighter future.
I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.
Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, again, I thank the gentleman from West Virginia and the
gentleman from Michigan for their constructive remarks and thank them
very much for their diligence in days past and their promise of
diligence in the days ahead as we deal with the challenges we confront.
Mr. Speaker, as I heard the gentleman from Michigan think about the
unique contributions of Native Americans not only in his home State but
in mine as well, I am struck by the comment of one of my constituents
in my first term who came here to Washington to visit not only his
congressman but to see the monuments memorializing the contributions of
so many. This particular gentleman was a veteran of the Vietnam
conflict.
He was mindful of the fact that Ira Hayes appeared in the Marine
Memorial, but at the end of his time in the immediate vicinity of the
mall, he said, ``I just have one question, Congressman: Where is the
Indian?''
That question challenges us today on a myriad of legislation with
which we deal, as we recognize sovereign rights, as we deal with, as
the gentleman from West Virginia pointed out, with a century-old
dilemma of trust funds that administrations of both parties have tried
to deal with, and Congress even employing a task force, which I
mentioned earlier. Today we stand and say
[[Page H8389]]
let us take an important step to recognize our first Americans and
their contributions, and that is the intent that we join today and that
is the spirit on which we endeavor to move this sense of Congress
resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr.
Simpson).
Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for introducing this
legislation, recognizing the contributions of Native Americans to our
society.
When I grew up, the place I lived, the southern border, was on the
Fort Hall Indian Reservation, and I worked many years on the Fort Hall
Indian Reservation, working on farms with Native Americans, and I came
to respect the Native Americans for the contributions they have made to
our society.
When I became Speaker of the House in Idaho, I realized I did not
know enough about Native American history and what they had contributed
to our society; and so I started studying them. In Idaho, we have the
Nez Perce tribe, which I am sure many Members have heard the name Chief
Joseph who was one of the true leaders of the American Indians, the Nez
Perce tribe; the Coeur d'Alene tribe; the Shoshone-Bannock tribe down
where I came from. Sacajawea was Shoshone. They contributed much to our
society.
Mr. Speaker, we need to do all we can to make sure that Americans are
aware of the contributions that Native Americans have made to our
society. As has been mentioned by the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Cannon),
they have contributed to our defense probably more than any other
ethnic group that there is. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Benefits
of the Committee on Veterans Affairs, I know of the contributions that
they have made and that we have to keep our commitments to our veterans
and to our Native Americans.
I compliment the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) for his
introduction of this resolution, and I encourage all Americans to take
some time to study what contributions have been made by Native
Americans and how they have really influenced our society for the good.
We should strive to make sure that we do not lose that individuality
that these Native Americans represent.
Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega).
(Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend
his remarks.)
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I want to first commend the gentleman
from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) and the gentleman from Utah and the
gentleman from Connecticut for their sponsorship of this legislation. I
wish I had known, I would have been more than happy to have been an
original cosponsor of this legislation.
I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 270 which
expresses the sense of Congress that Americans should take time during
Native American Heritage Month to recognize the contributions made by
this country's first Americans.
Mr. Speaker, I have come to this floor numerous times over the past
13 years to speak in support of Native Americans. In 1993, the 103rd
Congress passed and the President signed into law House Joint
Resolution 271 which I sponsored. This resolution designated the month
of November in the years 1993 and 1994 as National Indian Heritage
Month. I would have liked to have seen the designation made permanent.
However, since that time our government has continued each November to
recognize the traditions and accomplishments of Native Americans.
In some ways I feel we have gone full circle in recognizing the
benefits and wisdom of the earliest residents of this land. For
instance, the Native Americans all understood the value of respecting
the land, the rivers, the mountains, the seas, the oceans and all
things that live around us. As European culture took over North
America, I think we did not realize how much an impact western
civilization would have on the land and the cultures of the indigenous
people throughout the Western Hemisphere. Slowly over the past 40
years, we have been gaining some of that respect again. Through the
passage of legislation such as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water
Act, our Nation has taken some action to improve the environment
throughout our country.
With the passage of scores of bills designating national park and
wildlife refuges as heritage areas, we are preserving special places
within our borders. Visits to these designated areas are increasing
faster than the growing population. This is a further indication of our
appreciation of that which Native Americans have held sacred.
Today most people feel they are environmentalists, and the transition
we have gone through in this country to get to that point has had a
significant impact on our actions as a government and as individuals.
Even with this change in thinking, Mr. Speaker, I wish we would have
done more to help today's Native Americans. After taking land from the
Indians in the country's formative years and forcing tribes to move to
land not of their choosing, we still have problems in Indian country.
Recent statistics reflect the poverty rate at over 26 percent, well
above the average of our country, and median household income is well
below the average of the country.
The Census Bureau released some statistics last month which I find
interesting, Mr. Speaker. The opportunity for Americans to choose more
than one ethnicity in the 2000 census resulted in 4.1 million Americans
saying they are at least part Native Alaskan or American Indian. This
more than doubled the number who indicated that they were Native
Americans in the year 1990.
{time} 1830
California and Oklahoma had the greatest numbers of Native Americans
living within their boundaries, with over 1 million residents between
the two States and 19 percent of Alaska's population indicated they
were at least part American Indian or native Alaskan. I am sure part of
the increase as reported in the 2000 census is caused by the ability of
Native Americans to select more than one race on the census forms, but
I believe part of this increase is also attributed to an increased
sense of pride among Native Americans and their willingness to
acknowledge their heritage. Our Nation's Native Americans continue to
support our armed services by enlisting and also serving as officers in
the military and have done so with valor and distinction.
How ironic, Mr. Speaker. We have just celebrated our national
Thanksgiving with emphasis on the tribulations of the early Pilgrims,
but so little is said that the Pilgrims would have starved to death if
it had not been for the kindness and hospitality of the Native
Americans who taught these early Europeans how to grow corn and to eat
and prepare many other varieties of fruits and vegetables unknown to
the Pilgrims or the first Europeans. Yes, let us give thanks to Divine
Providence for all the blessing we have received from Him as was the
case with the early Pilgrims, but we should also give thanks and some
sense of appreciation how our Native American people taught and
literally demonstrated their sense of compassion and concern for their
fellow man. Native Americans did not need to be taught the parable of
the Good Samaritan, or who is my neighbor.
History has not dealt kindly with our Nation's treatment of our first
Americans: the trails of many tears; our contradictory policies of
first kill all the Indians; then the policy of assimilation as if by
some means of osmosis Native Americans were then to be integrated and
be part of mainstream America; then the policy of nonrecognition of
Native Americans, that is, terminate the existence of any tribal
nation. Still yet, our government has now established an administrative
and regulatory process that has made it almost impossible to grant
Federal recognition of a Native American tribe.
Mr. Speaker, for the past several years I have tried earnestly to
work with our colleagues to congressionally mandate the process of
Federal recognition of Native American tribes. The gentleman from North
Carolina (Mr. McIntyre) and I have introduced H.R. 1175 to better
streamline the process. I want to thank the gentleman from Utah (Mr.
Hansen) and the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall) for their
support and leadership to conduct a hearing in the short while to come.
Yes, let us support this legislation in recognition of the
contributions of our
[[Page H8390]]
first Americans. I commend the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth)
and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) for their leadership and
cochairmanship of our Native American Caucus. Our Native American
community asks only to be treated fairly and opportunities to be
economically self-sufficient.
Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from American
Samoa, who is no stranger to the good people of Arizona and has
accompanied me there to work on various Native American housing issues.
I thank him for that even as I yield 3 minutes to another good friend
who joins me on the Committee on Ways and Means, the gentleman from
Oklahoma (Mr. Watkins).
(Mr. WATKINS of Oklahoma asked and was given permission to revise and
extend his remarks.)
Mr. WATKINS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman
from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) and also the gentleman from Michigan (Mr.
Kildee) for his work in behalf of Native Americans.
As was indicated, the State of California and the State of Oklahoma
have the greatest number of Native Americans. In fact, Oklahoma has the
highest percentage of Native Americans since we are a lot smaller State
to say the least; but we have the highest percentage of Native
Americans, which we are very proud of because Oklahoma stands for ``red
man.'' With this population, I know from my personal experience in my
area which used to be very dominant, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr.
Kildee) knows where it is, down by Durant and Bryan County. I grew up
in Bennington, Oklahoma. I was the only non-Native American on the
baseball team, I was the only non-Indian on the basketball team because
all of us were brothers and sisters together in that community. It was
predominantly Native American Choctaws.
I am also proud to be the grandfather of two Creek grandchildren and
one Cherokee grandchild in my family, and so we have had very much a
family discussion about some of the concerns and problems over the
years. The Native Americans in many ways have been forgotten. Many of
my friends and Native Americans, I have sat with them and talked long
hours. All they want is an opportunity. In their socioeconomic
conditions, we know they have a tremendous problem in alcoholism and
drugs. We need to make sure we work in these areas to try to help them
overcome their problems. They are increasing the opportunities in
health. We all know they have made great contributions in the military.
I think the gentleman from Arizona mentioned this and others. They are
usually some of the first ones there to volunteer because they feel
very strongly about their native land as Native Americans.
Let me say, I have wanted to try to help build the kind of jobs,
opportunities so they can have real jobs. I have had pending before
this Congress and we are asking it be extended, section 168(j) of the
Tax Code which accelerated depreciation. That piece of legislation
works, 168(j) and 45(a), which gives tax credits for hiring Native
Americans. Many companies are locating so Native Americans can be
employed. If we want something to help stimulate the economy, if we
want something to help stimulate the economic conditions for a group of
people that has the worst economic conditions, I ask this Congress to
move forward and to extend at least a year those two provisions of the
Tax Code.
I want to thank again my two colleagues whom I greatly admire for
their tremendous work and role in bringing this to recognize November
as Native American Heritage Month. We need to all be doing a great deal
more to try to build opportunities for the Native American people.
Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Washington (Mr. Inslee), a member of our Committee on Resources.
Mr. INSLEE. Mr. Speaker, I wish my colleagues could have been with me
in Spokane, Washington, yesterday at the National Congress of American
Indians. You would have felt the same honor that I felt when folks
walked up and did an introduction of their service to America in
virtually every war in the last century, from every tribe in the United
States. It took a long time because there were a lot of veterans who
gave of themselves individually truly as American patriots in numbers
perhaps greater than the rest of our population. It really was a moving
experience. I appreciate my colleagues bringing this resolution to the
floor to note our respect for this part of the American fabric.
But I must tell you, having listened to some of the concerns of those
Americans yesterday in Spokane, I am disappointed in the sense of the
numerous times where this House in the last 10 months has failed to
honor our commitment to these Americans. Let me just mention four ways.
Number one, just the other day, the administration issued an edict
that it was going to recreate an organizational structure to deal with
this trust fund problem without any consultation at all with the people
who will be affected by this major change in organization, the people
that have these millions of dollars in trust. They never even picked up
the phone to talk to tribal leaders about this issue. What type of
government-to-government relationship is that? This resolution does not
speak to that issue.
Secondly, we have tribal members who have land resources that are
tremendously affected by our energy policies. I was up in Alaska in the
Arctic Village meeting with the Gwich'in people leadership about the
Arctic drilling controversy. They pleaded with the U.S. House not to
drill in the Arctic because they think it could endanger the caribou
runs which their entire tribe depends on for sustenance. So what did
the House do? We ignored their rights, we decided to drill anyway,
abusing their long, long history of their relationship with the caribou
herds. A second transgression.
Third, contract support payments. Uncle Sam has a statutory
commitment to contribute to the tribes contract support costs to
administer health care plans. But have we fulfilled that commitment in
the last 10 months? No, we have not. Another unfilled promise after 2
or 3 centuries of abuse of these peoples.
Fourth, and this is one that we are going to continue to have debate
on in the Committee on Resources, I am afraid. There are efforts in
this House that folks now want to intrude on sovereignty on issues
regarding taxation. We have already seen efforts now to create an
impediment of the working relationship of tribes with States in dealing
with taxation issues, rather than allowing tribes to work on a good-
faith basis with States.
So I must come to the well to applaud the makers and my colleagues
for expressing the sentiments and the good feelings and good tidings we
have for this part of community, but let us do more than give these
people good tidings. Let us give them respect and legislation and solve
these problems.
Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 270, a
resolution expressing the sense of Congress that Americans should take
time during Native American Heritage Month to recognize the many
accomplishments and contributions made by native peoples.
As our Nation enters into the 21st century, it is important that we
recognize the elements that have shaped our history and our culture.
The contributions made by Native Americans represent a significant
aspect of American heritage, not only in a cultural sense, but also in
the sacrifices, dedication, and patriotism displayed by Native
Americans throughout our history.
In my home state of Wisconsin, there are 11 federally recognized
tribes representing close to 50,000 American citizens. In addition, a
large number of Wisconsin cities, counties, lakes, and rivers hold
names representative of the strong Native American heritage in the
area. This rich history in Wisconsin is also illustrated through Native
American educational programs in public schools and many cultural
celebration events. Indeed, the common values of many Wisconsin
communities reflect Native American heritage including a deep respect
for land, air, and water resources, agriculture, and history.
This legislation encourages Americans to celebrate Native American
Heritage Month and honor Native American contributions to our national
history and culture. As a member of the Native American Caucus, I
appreciate the emphasis this resolution puts on Native American
Heritage Month, and I am hopeful such efforts continue.
Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
[[Page H8391]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Isakson). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res.
270.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was
agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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