Teresa Leger Fernandez

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 1975, the Pala Band of Mission Indians Land Transfer Act of 2021, introduced by Representative Issa from California, will direct the Secretary of the Interior to take 721.12 acres of land into trust for the Pala Band of Mission Indians. The Pala Band of Mission Indians is located in northern San Diego County with 918 enrolled members. Members of the Pala Band belong to the Cupeno and Luiseno Tribes who were forced together by Spanish Franciscan missionaries during the 1800s. The Pala Band recently purchased property that includes the remaining portion of Gregory Mountain that is not on the existing Pala Band Reservation and other sacred and culturally significant sites in Gregory Canyon. The land was purchased to protect and preserve Gregory Mountain, Medicine Rock, and other sites considered sacred by Luiseno Tribes. Taking land into trust is an integral part of the government-to- government relationship between the U.S. Government and Tribal governments. By maintaining Tribal lands, Tribal governments can protect and preserve their ancestral homelands or sacred sites considered culturally significant. This bill takes 721.12 acres into trust for the benefit of the Pala Band, ensuring that the sacred sites and cultural history located on those lands will be honored appropriately and safeguarded. The bill also stipulates that current land and water rights are not affected by its enactment, nor are any rights-of-way or rights of use that are currently permitted. Lastly, the Pala Band may not conduct any gaming activities on the land. Madam Speaker, I want to thank Representative Issa for championing this bipartisan legislation, and I urge its quick adoption. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I do want to thank Representative Issa, Representative Westerman, and Chair Grijalva for moving this bipartisan bill forward and taking the action that is required at this time to ensure that the Pala Band of Indians can, indeed, control this land for their sacred and cultural sites. Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1975) to take certain land located in San Diego County, California, into trust for the benefit of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, and for other purposes.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva), the chairman of the Natural Resources Committee.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I want to, once again, thank Ranking Member Westerman, as well as Ranking Member Don Young and Chair Grijalva, for bringing forth this legislation. It addresses immediately something that we saw that had lingered, but the pandemic shown its ugly light on what happens when we let things linger and do not deal with them. This legislation fixes that. It highlights the importance of communication, of cooperation, and the confer policy that must be adopted across all of our agencies, not only at HHS. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 5221, the Urban Indian Health Confer Act, introduced by Natural Resources Chair Raul Grijalva from Arizona will require agencies and offices within the United States Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, to confer with Urban Indian Organizations, or UIOs, on policies and initiatives related to healthcare for American Indians and Alaska Natives. The Indian Health Care Improvement Act established Urban Indian Organizations in response to many American Indians and Alaska Natives living in urban areas and seeking healthcare. Today, approximately 70 percent of all American Indians and Alaska Natives live in urban areas. The Indian Health Service supports contracts and grants to 41 UIO programs that offer medical services ranging from dental care, optometry, pharmacy services, and community services, such as alcohol and drug abuse prevention, nutrition education, and counseling. An urban confer policy at HHS will serve as the preferred method of dialogue between the agency and UIOs. Currently, the Indian Health Service is the only agency that maintains a legal obligation to confer with UIOs. This limited scope serves as a barrier for UIOs to communicate with other agencies and offices within HHS. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the issues with this limited confer policy were, sadly, highlighted. Despite congressional and Tribal support for the inclusion of UIOs and the agency's vaccine allocations, HHS refrained from initiating communications with them. As a result, UIOs were unable to provide input on the vaccine rollout allocations until the deadline, which delayed the vaccine's distribution to many urban American Indians and Alaska Natives. The failure to communicate with UIOs about healthcare policies that impact urban Indian communities is inconsistent with the Federal trust responsibility and contrary to sound public health policy. H.R. 5221 will establish direct lines of communication for UIOs across the entire Department and ensure that urban American Indians and Alaska Natives are aware of significant healthcare policy changes. I want to thank Chair Grijalva for championing this critical bipartisan legislation. I am pleased to be a cosponsor of the bill and I urge quick adoption. I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC, October 26, 2021. Hon. Robert C. ``Bobby'' Scott, Chair, Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chair Scott, I write to you concerning H.R. 5221, the ``Urban Indian Health Confer Act.'' I appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this legislation. I recognize that the bill contains provisions that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Education and Labor. I acknowledge that your Committee will not formally consider H.R. 5221 and agree that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the matters contained in the bill that fall within your Committee's Rule X jurisdiction. I am pleased to support your request to name members of the Committee on Education and Labor to any conference committee to consider such provisions. I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in the Committee Report and the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and look forward to continuing to work with you as this measure moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, Raul M. Grijalva, Chair, Committee on Natural Resources.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5221) to amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to establish an urban Indian organization confer policy for the Department of Health and Human Services.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3616, the Bear River National Heritage Study Act, introduced by my Natural Resources Committee colleague, Representative Blake Moore. H.R. 3616 would direct the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Bear River National Heritage Area. The study area would include seven counties in northern Utah and southeastern Idaho, focusing on areas that are within the main drainage area of the Bear River. Heritage area designations are locally driven initiatives that leverage Federal resources to support the preservation of shared heritage in a manner that boosts conservation, recreation, and economic development. These shared stories are vital, as we consider what is the American story. These heritage centers have proven successful all over the country, and I am pleased to support this bill that will examine the potential of the Bear River region. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to ensure a successful and sustainable future for the entire Heritage Area program and would, again, like to congratulate Representative Moore for championing this bill on behalf of his constituents. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I look forward to listening to the many interconnected and complex stories that will come out of this study and to perhaps visiting the heritage area in the near future. I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 4881, the Old Pascua Community Land Acquisition Act, introduced by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva), the Natural Resources Committee Chair, will direct the Secretary of the Interior to take approximately 30 acres of land into trust for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. The Pascua Yaqui Tribe is located in southern Arizona, near the city of Tucson, and has approximately 22,000 enrolled Tribal members, with a 2,216-acre reservation. Before the Federal recognition of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Yaqui leaders, local leaders, and others worked together to establish a home for Tribal citizens. In 1921 these efforts led to the formal Pascua Village in Tucson, Arizona. Before the formal Federal recognition and the establishment of a reservation in 1978, former Congressman Mo Udall of Arizona introduced a bill to establish 202 acres of land southwest of Tucson to the Pascua Yaqui Association. While many families relocated to this new land base, many other families remained in the Pascua Village, known as Old Pascua. With the growing city of Tucson and the geographic distance from the formal reservation, the Tribe has worked to ensure the Tribal members living within the Pascua Village have remained cared for, including working with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to designate Old Pascua as near- reservation lands. Earlier this year, the Tribe entered into a State-negotiated compact with the State of Arizona to provide gaming activities in the Old Pascua community. The Secretary of the Interior approved the compact in May 2021. Further, the Tribe signed an intergovernmental agreement with the city of Tucson to transfer a parcel of land within Tucson into trust for the benefit of the Tribe. This bill ensures the Old Pascua community remains intact with the Tribe's homelands, and the bill will allow the Tribe to conduct gaming activities, expand economic development opportunities, and engage in cultural practices on their historic land. I am pleased to cosponsor H.R. 4881, which is a bipartisan bill, with support from the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, the city of Tucson, the State of Arizona, and the Arizona delegation. I support the Old Pascua Community Land Acquisition Act, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the bill. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva), the chair of the Natural Resources Committee.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4881) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to take into trust for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona certain land in Pima County, Arizona, and for other purposes.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 108) to authorize the Seminole Tribe of Florida to lease or transfer certain land, and for other purposes.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I once again thank Ranking Member Westerman for his support of this package of bipartisan bills that we have brought to the floor today. It is historic that we begin this month with this commitment to these bills and to getting them passed in a bipartisan manner. I thank the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Fleischmann) for his work and for the bipartisan support we have today on this floor for cultural preservation of Tribal sites. The idea that we are committed to safeguard--that is such a beautiful word he used--the stories and places of sacred importance to Tribes because we know that too often they are overrun with other interests, that they take over, and they lose those sacred sites. I am so grateful to all of you for the support of this legislation and the other pieces of legislation that we have brought forward today, which we emphasize, and we dedicate ourselves to a new era where we are working to protect sacred sites, where we are making sure that the healthcare of Indian Tribes is maintained and improved in our urban areas. It is a very good day on the floor. I urge all my colleagues to support this bill and all eight bills we have brought forward today. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 2088, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act, introduced by Representative Fleischmann from Tennessee, takes specified lands and easements in Monroe County, Tennessee, into trust for the use and benefit of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. These areas include the Sequoyah Museum, the Chota Memorial, the Tanasi Memorial, and land to support these properties and cultural programs. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is one of three federally recognized Cherokee Tribes and is the only federally recognized Tribe in North Carolina. The Eastern Band's ancestral homeland includes substantial parts of seven eastern States, including Tennessee. The 57,000-acre Qualla Boundary is the name of the Cherokee Indian Reservation in North Carolina. In 1979, the completion of the Tellico Dam by the Tennessee Valley Authority caused large areas of the Eastern Band's ancestral lands along the Little Tennessee River to be flooded, completely submerging the sacred sites and archaeological remains of the historic Overland Cherokee towns, including the Cherokee capitals of the 1700s. The Eastern Band can never recover these flooded lands and sites. Especially with that loss in mind, it is important to recognize that there are other locations in the area that require protection and preservation, and we can do that today. H.R. 2088 helps this cause by transferring approximately 76 acres of historically significant lands from the TVA to the U.S. Government to be held in trust for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. It also grants two permanent easements over TVA property to be held in trust for the Tribe to create recreational trails between the sites. This legislation will give the Eastern Band greater control over their historic homelands and the opportunity to memorialize the history and culture of the Cherokee people. I support H.R. 2088, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I, too, want to thank Mr. Bishop, Mr. Butterfield, Mr. Westerman, and Mr. Grijalva for championing this legislation so that we may today undo 100 years of injustice. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I would inquire whether my colleague has any remaining speakers on their side. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 2758, the Lumbee Recognition Act, introduced by Representative Butterfield from North Carolina, will extend Federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. With approximately 60,000 members, the Lumbee Tribe is the largest in North Carolina, the largest Tribe east of the Mississippi River, and the ninth largest Tribe in the Nation. In 1885, the Lumbee Tribe was recognized by the State of North Carolina. The Tribe then sought Federal recognition from the United States in 1889 and has been pursuing its recognition ever since. Over the past 130 years, numerous bills have been introduced in Congress to federally recognize the Lumbee people, resulting in a significant record of hearing transcripts and committee reports. In addition, numerous studies have been undertaken in academia on Lumbee ancestry, including reports filed by the Department of the Interior on the Tribe's validity. All of these documents and these reports consistently conclude one thing: The Lumbee people are indeed a distinct, self-governing community that has been continuously and undeniably present in the Robeson County area. However, in 1955, when the Lumbee Tribe once again sought Federal recognition, the U.S. Government was actively terminating its relationship with Tribal governments. To that end, the Department of the Interior recommended that Congress amend the recognition legislation to deny eligibility for the benefits and services available to the Tribe after becoming recognized under the bill. Congress then enacted this amended legislation in 1956, which had the effect of simultaneously federally recognizing the Lumbee Tribe and effectively terminating that recognition. In 1987, the Lumbee Tribe attempted to restore their Federal recognition through the Federal acknowledgment process at the Department of the Interior. However, the Department determined that the Tribe was ineligible to participate in the Federal acknowledgment process because Congress, according to the 1956 act, had terminated its relationship with the Tribe. Therefore, only Congress could restore that relationship. This is what the enactment of H.R. 2758 will accomplish. Federal recognition is the formal establishment of a government-to- government relationship between the United States and a Tribal nation. Its importance to Tribes cannot be overstated. Federal recognition allows a Tribe to reestablish its homelands and place that land into trust for future generations. Recognizing Tribes as sovereign entities enables Tribal governments to manage resources, including local jurisdiction and taxation issues. Recognition also entitles Tribal citizens to distinctive benefits, including eligibility to participate in many Federal programs, including for healthcare and education. That is why the enactment of this legislation is vital to the Lumbee Tribe. Let's keep in mind that the Lumbee Tribe has been seeking formal Federal recognition for over 100 years. Now is the time. Other Tribes that were terminated by congressional action had come before Congress and had their relationship reestablished through legislation. After a century of inaction, it is finally time that we extend Federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe. Madam Speaker, I want to thank Representative Butterfield for championing this bipartisan legislation. I urge its quick adoption, and I reserve the balance of my time.