Darren Soto

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano).

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I thank the ranking member, Mr. Westerman from Arkansas, for his bipartisan support. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Demings).

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise, along with Representative Demings and Representative Murphy from central Florida, in strong support of our bill, H.R. 49. Nearly 5 years ago, 49 angels lost their lives and 53 others were injured when a deranged gunman opened fire at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida. You can see here photos of those who we lost, lives cut short. This horrific act of hate and terror against our LGBTQ and Latino community, African-American community, and Anglo community could have divided us, but we came together stronger than ever before. Orlando swore as a community to never forget those we lost that night. Their stories, their images, their memories, and their spirits must live on in our hearts. We were all there for vigils in Orlando, where the bell rang 49 times for those angels we lost, and I am honored to say, across this Nation and all 50 States, and many countries, we saw vigils also recognizing it, which is why it is so critical that this is a national memorial, because it was truly a national and international tragedy. To honor the fallen and survivors of this tragedy, I join my colleagues to introduce landmark legislation to designate the Pulse nightclub as a federally recognized national memorial site. This designation as a nonaffiliated National Park Service national memorial would not require Federal funds, but it would honor the 49 lives taken on June 12, 2016, as well as the survivors, the first responders who so heroically came to the rescue of so many others, and the entire central Florida community. Together, we will open minds and hearts. We will make the Pulse Memorial a national symbol of hope, love, and change. I would like to, again, thank my amazing colleagues, Congresswoman Val Demings and Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy, for joining me in leading this important legislation, and I urge a ``yes'' vote. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 49) to designate the National Pulse Memorial located at 1912 South Orange Avenue, Orlando, Florida, 32806, and for other purposes.

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

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California, Chair Takano, for taking the pilgrimage to the Pulse Memorial, along with me and others and listening and paying respects. So I appreciate that. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline).

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline) for making the pilgrimage and paying his respects at the memorial. Madam Speaker, at this time, I have no further requests for time, and I would inquire whether my colleague has any remaining speakers on his side.

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I thank the ranking member, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and our colleagues across the aisle for their bipartisan support of this really important bill for our Nation. I thank also Representatives Demings, Murphy, Cicilline, and Takano for their support here today. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I thank the ranking member, Mr. Westerman from Arkansas, for his positive comments and bipartisan spirit, and I thank Mr. Case. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I thank the ranking member for his positive comments. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case).

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 297, sponsored by my Committee on Natural Resources' colleague, Representative Ed Case of Hawaii. Madam Speaker, this legislation would require the Secretary of Agriculture, in coordination with the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, to conduct a study to identify lands in the State of Hawaii that merit inclusion in the National Forest System. Hawaii is one of the most ecologically diverse places in the world, home to 10 of the 13 world climate zones, with ecosystems ranging from the deserts to tropics, where plants and animals that found their way to Hawaii evolved like nowhere else. The study would consider how a Hawaii national forest could contribute to the conservation of this biodiversity not found elsewhere in the National Forest System. Madam Speaker, H.R. 297 provides the first step in establishing a national forest in Hawaii and a basis for bringing together local stakeholders to move forward the conversation on how to responsibly establish a national forest in Hawaii that benefits both Hawaii's island communities as well as the National Forest Service. Madam Speaker, as we continue to work towards the Biden administration's effort to protect 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030, and identify solutions to our climate and biodiversity crises, I hope we can all see the value in taking this step towards protecting Hawaii's unique forest resources and its native species. Madam Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 297) to require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study on the establishment of, and the potential land that could be included in, a unit of the National Forest System in the State of Hawaii, and for other purposes.

Mr. SOTO. 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.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SOTO. 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.

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. We had extensive hearings on these issues in the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States, and it became clear we needed resources and technical assistance to protect Native American children and families in addition to what they are getting now. I thank our outgoing chair, Mr. Gallego, for his leadership on this; the dean of the House, Representative Don Young, for his amazing leadership in working together; former Member Cook, who participated in these meetings extensively; as well as now-Secretary Deb Haaland, one of the first Native American women to serve in the Congress. I thank Ranking Member Westerman for helping us get this done in a bipartisan fashion. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Escobar).

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 2208, introduced by Representative Veronica Escobar from Texas, amends the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama and Coushatta Indian Tribes of Texas Restoration Act of 1987 to clarify that the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act applies to both the Pueblo and the Tribe. The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas was federally terminated in 1954. This wrong was followed in 1968 by termination of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, also known as the Tigua Tribe. Congress rightfully restored both the Pueblo and the Tribe by enacting the aforementioned Restoration Act of 1987. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was enacted just one year later, in 1988. The framework that it created should have applied to both the Pueblo and the Tribe, just as it did to every other Tribe. However, since the Restoration Act was passed at a time when Indian gaming was just emerging and Federal regulations had not yet been implemented, it contains a section regarding gaming. We know from the Congressional Record that the intent of this section of the Restoration Act was to clarify Indian gaming policy at the time, not to completely prohibit gaming on these lands in perpetuity. But that is what is occurring. The language in the Restoration Act has been used by the State of Texas to repeatedly stymie the Pueblo's and the Tribe's ability to engage in class II gaming, much to the detriment of the economic health and well-being of both the Pueblo and the Tribe. Additionally, the only other federally recognized Tribe in Texas, the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe, is allowed to operate a class II gaming facility, as they were restored by Congress in 1983, without any type of gaming restrictions. H.R. 2208 remedies this inequality by clarifying that the Pueblo and the Tribe, like the Kickapoo, have the same rights and responsibilities under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act as virtually every other federally recognized Tribe in the United States. This legislation confers no new or special rights to the Pueblo or the Tribe, nor does it in any way limit the existing rights of the State of Texas. This is simply a matter of parity and fairness, and I urge adoption of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SOTO. 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.

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2208) to restore an opportunity for tribal economic development on terms that are equal and fair, and for other purposes.

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I thank both Representative Escobar and Representative Gonzales for their leadership to right this wrong, this injustice. I thank the dean of the House, Representative Young, for his very informative history lesson on the legislation. I also thank Ranking Member Westerman for his bipartisan support. Mr. Speaker, I urge our colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 478) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to take certain land located in Pinal County, Arizona, into trust for the benefit of the Gila River Indian Community, and for other purposes.

Mr. SOTO. 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.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 810) to amend the National Trails System Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on the feasibility of designating the Chief Standing Bear National Historic Trail, and for other purposes.