Raúl Grijalva

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell), a member of the Natural Resources Committee.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lowenthal), chair of the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources of the Committee on Natural Resources.

Mr. GRIJALVA. I yield the gentlewoman from Michigan an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Horsford), a member of the Natural Resources Committee.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Hill).

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Schrader).

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I wonder if I may inquire if the gentleman from Utah has any additional speakers.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) for her comments.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Mrs. Trahan).

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Schrier).

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank everyone who voiced their support for S. 47. Before we close and turn to a vote, I again express my thanks to my colleagues who helped bring this bill before us today. It is a major win for conservation across the United States, and I strongly encourage all my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation. The American people need to know from this Congress that there are opportunities to produce bipartisan wins, whether it is for conservation or public lands or, more importantly, for the people of this country. I think this bill represents that. I extend my appreciation and my thanks to respective staffs on both sides of the aisle, for their hard work in bringing this together. As my friend from Utah said at the outset of this conversation today, it is not a perfect bill, but it is an effort on the part of many of us who came to this with disparate views, different opinions, and opposition to some of its content. It was an effort to try to do something that reflected common ground. I think this bill reflects common ground. I think it is a win for all of us. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all my colleagues to vote in support of S. 47, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I send to the desk a concurrent resolution and ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate the impressive accomplishments of five Native American youth who were chosen as this year's Center for Native American Youth Champions for Change. The Aspen Institute's Center for Native American Youth, or CNAY, will celebrate its seventh cohort of CNAY Champions for Change through a series of recognition events and leadership development trainings in Washington, D.C. this week. Today we recognize Autumn Adams, Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Shandiin Herrera, Navajo Nation, Madison White, Mohawk Nation at Akwesasne, Charitie Ropati, Native Village of Kongiganak, and Adam Soulor, The Mohegan Tribe, who will serve as representatives of the next generation of leaders in Indian Country for the next year. From Alaska to Connecticut, and now Washington, D.C., these impressive young leaders advocate on issues like decolonizing education standards, supporting victims of sexual assault, and improving child welfare systems. For their dedication to their communities and as leaders to their peers, I would like to congratulate them as they continue their honorable work.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I am very grateful for my friend's, Representative McCollum's, leadership on this issue and for the tireless efforts of the Appropriations chair and Speaker Pelosi. They are working on behalf of the people to fund and reopen this government. I want to make one particular note. While the harm to our parks has been noted, the damage to Indian Country is less documented and, in many cases, much more personal and devastating. According to a January 1 New York Times report, the shutdown has trapped members of the Navajo Nation in their homes due to unplowed roads in remote areas and has put many Tribal members and their families in severe economic stress. Law enforcement officers continue working without pay because they are Federal employees. Similar scenarios are reported and are playing out in Tribal land across this Nation. The National Council of Urban Indian Health found that 62 percent of the Urban Indian Health Centers will need to cancel programs or cease offering services if the shutdown continues. That process has already begun. Today, I launched an online tool for Americans to share their stories of how the Trump shutdown impacts their lives. I ask them to share their experience of being furloughed, forced to work without pay, and turned away from visiting public lands and denied essential services. Trump and his supporters need to listen to these stories. I encourage everyone to speak out on social media with the hashtag my shutdown story.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to add my voice of support for the Interior appropriations bill to fund the government. Trump's ongoing government shutdown has damaged our economy, our national parks, and our public lands. This damage that we see is not an inevitable outcome; this is directly Republican-inflicted damage. Trump and his enablers seem happy to let this shutdown slow our economy, hurt Indian Country, and put our national parks and public lands at risk indefinitely. It shouldn't be hard for our Republican colleagues to choose between funding normal government operations or continuing to make people suffer for the Trump ego and obsession. This bill is nearly identical to the legislation that already passed the Senate 92-6. It reopens vital agencies and returns our national parks to normal business. This means we can clean up the trash and repair the damage that has been done through this shutdown. Opposing this bill encourages Trump to keep holding Americans hostage to his delusional demands.

Mr. GRIJALVA. I gladly yield to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum).

Mr. GRIJALVA. Reclaiming my time, the administration has not done enough to protect public safety or the quality of our public lands during this shutdown. New roads have been bulldozed through protected land in Joshua Tree National Park because staff was not there to prevent it. Hikers have been injured and had to rely on volunteers to carry them to safety. We all heard about the trash piling up at precious sites across this country. Every day, we see more damage to our public lands, and that involves, also, the vandalism and looting on protected areas, cultural areas, and historic resources in our public lands and parks. I haven't seen any serious willingness from the administration to end this shutdown and get back to normal operations. Ironically, the permitting for gas, oil, and mining continues, unabated, at the expense of the public taxpayers and employees and, of course, our public lands and parks. Though the permitting process in the refuge and in other parts of New Mexico and Oklahoma continues unabated, this is one part of this shutdown that was not affected at all.

Mr. GRIJALVA. I yield to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum).

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this bill redesignates the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge in southern Florida as Nathaniel P. Reed Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge. We concur with the gentleman, the majority, Mr. McClintock, on this issue. I ask all Members to please vote in favor of the resolution. It is a fitting tribute to a former Interior Department official who helped develop the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Water Act. It is a fitting tribute, and I urge its passage. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6287 would provide grant funding for the operation, security, and maintenance of the memorials honoring those men and women who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. We concur with the Senate amendment that modifies the term ``covered memorial.'' We urge our colleagues to support this amendment one more time. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, again, S. 3530 renews the Museum and Library Services Act to enhance the ability of libraries and museums to address community needs, including workforce development, literacy, and accessibility for individuals with disabilities. The bill is supported by the American Library Association and the American Alliance of Museums. This legislation strengthens the use of data-driven tools to maximize the effectiveness of services; provides technical support and assistance to help the libraries and museums with data collection responsibilities; authorizes the 21st Century Museum Professionals Program to recruit museum professionals from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds; enhances collaborative efforts with Federal agencies to fully meet the needs of Americans; and increases services for Native Americans. It is vital to ensure that our libraries and museums have the necessary resources to modernize their services and continue to solidify their role as technological hubs of our communities and as access points in our communities throughout this country. Libraries and museums ensure access to information for millions of adults and children across this country, and I am thrilled that we have the opportunity to promote their growth, expand their services, and safeguard these critical institutions for generations to come. I am proud to have introduced this legislation with Congressman Hurd from Texas who introduced the companion legislation in the House and fully support the passage of S. 3530, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2606 seeks to amend the 1947 Stigler Act by removing the arbitrary blood quantum levels it established for Indian land ownership. This will ensure that lands currently owned by the citizens of the Five Tribes of Oklahoma will remain in restricted fee status, regardless of their blood quantum levels or that of their heirs. The House has already passed this measure once, and I am happy to agree to the changes that the Senate made to Mr. Cole's bill. Upholding the sanctity of a Tribe's land base should be of utmost importance to Congress and the Federal Government as a whole. A tribal land base is not just about tax-exempt status or economic development, both of which are vitally important to tribal communities. It is also about construction of housing, schools, clinics, and eldercare facilities, things that are extremely vital to the health and the well- being of tribal members. It is also about recognizing a tribe's historical, cultural, and spiritual connection to the land, land that they called their own until it was forcibly or wrongly taken from them. We need to ensure that tribal sovereignty and self-governance are more than just talking points. There are real-world decisions that we make that have very real consequences, so it is shameful that a dark chapter in history is now repeating itself. I am referring to the dire situation that is facing the Mashpee Tribe of Massachusetts. The Mashpee have inhabited present-day Massachusetts and eastern Rhode Island for more than 12,000 years. Their ancestors are the ones who welcomed the Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth Rock, as well as the people who aided these Pilgrims through the hard times of 1621 that we now refer to as our First Thanksgiving. Like many tribes, the Mashpee were intentionally and systematically rendered landless through various actions by the States and the Federal Government. They have fought long and hard since that time to reestablish that which was taken from them: their homeland. They fought first for Federal recognition, which they finally received in 2009 after a 30- year struggle. They then fought to establish a homeland for their people, which they finally did in 2015, when Interior approved their application to take 320 acres into trust for the Tribe. Things were looking optimistic for the Mashpee people. They constructed a government center, which includes a school, courtrooms, and multipurpose rooms, and they established a medical clinic facility. They were planning to embark on economic development opportunities that would help sustain the Tribal people and ensure their prosperity for future generations. Then the rug was cruelly pulled out from beneath them. In 2017, the Department of Justice, under the Trump administration, inexplicably refused to continue to defend the status of the Tribe's reservation in court. Then on September 7, 2018, the Department of the Interior issued its first Carciary decision, in which it refused to reaffirm its own authority to confirm the status of the Tribe's reservation. Interior rejected clear evidence that the Mashpee were indeed under Federal jurisdiction, evidence that was accepted as sufficient in prior agency decisions. This decision is devastating and unprecedented. It would mark the first time since the dark days of the termination era that the United States acts to de-establish an Indian reservation and make a Tribe landless. On our side of the aisle, we have been sounding the alarm for some time that this would come to pass if we did not address the Carciary issue, and yet the majority has refused to address that issue for almost a decade. Many other Tribes also face frivolous lawsuits on land that they have had in trust for years, sometimes decades. These attacks on sovereignty eat up valuable Tribal resources and funds, funds that could be instead used on housing, healthcare, economic development, and a myriad of other Tribal needs and concerns. As a result of this, the Trump administration's decision, the Mashpee and the Tribal government is on the brink of total dissolve. The legal limbo that has been imposed by the decision is forcing the Tribe to have to borrow thousands of dollars every day to keep its government running. This has resulted in devastating cuts to essential services and massive layoffs. The majority of Tribal members are employed with the Tribe. Due to this, the Tribal unemployment rate has skyrocketed to 49 percent. They have had to essentially dissolve their police force except for one patrol officer; they have laid off all Tribal court staff; they are in the process of shutting down their elder services and addiction treatment programs; and they are having to shut down their language immersion school serving preschool and school-age children. This is completely unacceptable and, sadly, avoidable. If this were occurring with a State or a local government, my colleagues across the aisle would have already remedied the situation, and we could do just that. We could address this issue head-on by simply reaffirming the trust status of Mashpee land. We could overturn the misguided agency decision and give stability and sovereignty back to the Mashpee people. This is exactly what many of us on both sides of the aisle have strongly advocated for months; however, the silence from Republican leadership of the House is deafening. Legislation to affirm the Mashpee homeland has existed for months, even before the Interior decision, yet the majority has refused to move it. Inaction is complacency, and the inaction of this body sets a dangerous precedent moving forward for other Tribes that are having their sovereignty challenged. Many of us have worked diligently over the years to right the wrongs of the past and rightfully return land back to Tribes. Mr. Speaker, I implore our Republican majority to work with us now to ensure Mashpee culture and its way of life survives. Congress must affirm its Federal trust responsibility and ensure Tribal sovereignty remains intact. We must not idly stand by as Tribal people are on the losing end of another heinous wrongdoing--not on this watch. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.