Klamath Tribe Judgment Fund Repeal Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 314) to repeal the Klamath Tribe Judgment Fund Act.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: S. 314

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Klamath Tribe Judgment Fund Repeal Act''. SEC. 2. REPEAL.

Public Law 89-224 (commonly known as the ``Klamath Tribe Judgment Fund Act'') (79 Stat. 897) is repealed. SEC. 3. DISBURSEMENT OF REMAINING FUNDS.

Notwithstanding any provision of Public Law 89-224 (79 Stat. 897) (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act) relating to the distribution or use of funds, as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall disburse to the Klamath Tribe the balance of any funds that, on or before the date of enactment of this Act, were appropriated or deposited into the trust accounts for remaining legal fees and administration and per capita trust accounts, as identified by the Secretary of the Interior, under that Act (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act).

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 314, the Klamath Tribe Judgment Fund Repeal Act, introduced by Senator Merkley of Oregon. Our colleague, Representative Schrader of Oregon, has the House companion to this legislation.

This bill will provide long-awaited relief to the Klamath Tribes by restoring the Tribe's self-governance over the management of its own judgment funds.

Like many tribes, the Klamath Tribes were terminated by Congress in the 1950s--in their case, through passage of the Klamath Termination Act. In addition to termination, the legislation established procedures for the sale of reservation land belonging to Tribal members.

At the time, the Tribe was required to submit to the Secretary of the Interior a final roll call of Tribal members. The final roll call was eventually used to settle the Tribe's ongoing Indian Claims Commission suits under the Klamath Tribe Judgment Fund Act.

Fortunately, in 1986, the Klamath Tribes' Federal trust relationship with the United States was restored. However, the judgment fund did not account for this restoration and limited the ability of the Tribe to settle any outlying claims.

Today, the Klamath Tribes have no ability to determine how Tribal funds can be allocated to Tribal members or other Tribal priorities. This goes against Tribal sovereignty and is a violation of the authorities upheld by Federal recognition.

S. 314 will right this wrong by repealing the outdated Klamath Tribe Judgment Fund Act and restoring the Tribe's ability to exercise its sovereign authority over its own Tribal judgment funds.

I thank Senator Merkley and Representative Schrader for introducing this important piece of legislation and supporting the Tribe in its lengthy quest for a remedy.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. GRIJALVA. Leger Fernandez), the chair of the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Grijalva and Ranking Member Obernolte, as well as Majority Leader Hoyer and others, for working to bring this and several other commonsense bills serving Indian Country to the floor today.

Though I think most folks are already in the holiday cheer, it was just a couple of weeks ago, in November, that we celebrated Native American Heritage Month.

Last November, we were able to consider a number of bipartisan Tribal bills under suspension of the rules in recognition of this commemorative month and in honor of Tribal communities across this country.

We must not only recognize and commemorate Native Americans, but we must act in Congress to reaffirm Tribal sovereignty, Tribal self- determination, and our own trust responsibilities to the Tribes.

So, even though we are a couple of weeks off this time, I am thrilled that we could again dedicate House floor time to Tribal nations and communities. It is my hope that we can continue this tradition in the 118th Congress and beyond.

I stand here today in support of S. 314, the Klamath Tribe Judgment Fund Repeal Act. As Chair Grijalva noted, and Representative Obernolte seconded, we considered this bill in our committee in order to right a historical wrong.

We heard directly from the Klamath Tribes' chairman about what this bill means to him and his people, and the importance of enacting it to finally truly acknowledge their self-determination and Tribal sovereignty.

Upon enactment of this bill, we will finally provide control of the Klamath Tribe Judgment Fund to the Tribe in recognition of its important role.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

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

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