Nullifying Supplemental Treaty Between United States of America and Confederated Tribes and Bands of Indians of Middle Oregon

Floor Speech

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Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 832.

As my colleague has described, the bill would nullify an 1865 supplement to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation. It was signed after the original 1855 treaty.

This supplemental treaty further restricted the rights of Tribal members to the extent that, among other things, they could not leave the reservation without written permission from the Federal agency superintendent.

According to the Tribe, this supplemental treaty was in response to non-Indian settler concerns with Tribal members using their usual and accustomed areas to hunt and fish.

The State of Oregon has indicated it has no intention of enforcing this antiquated and discriminatory treaty, but it does remain on the books, Madam Speaker, and I support the Tribes' request to have it struck.

Madam Speaker, I thank the sponsor of the House companion of this bill, Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Walden, for his efforts to see this offensive provision removed.

Madam Speaker, I urge the adoption of this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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