April 1, 1971
Page 9164
By Mr. MUSKIE (for himself, Mr. PELL, Mr. RIBICOFF, Mrs. SMITH, Mr. THURMOND, and Mr. HOLLINGS)
S. 1460. A bill to make available to certain organized tribes, bands or groups of Indians residing on Indian reservations established under State law certain benefits, care, or assistance for which federally recognized Indian tribes qualify as recipients. Referred to the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs.
FEDERAL BENEFITS TO INDIANS
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, in the 91st Congress I introduced legislation which would extend Federal benefits to Indian tribes and certain organized bands or groups of Indians residing on Indian reservations established under State law. These benefits include care or assistance for which federally recognized Indian tribes qualify as recipients. On behalf of myself and Senators HOLLINGS, PELL, RIBICOFF, SMITH and THURMOND, I reintroduce that legislation for appropriate reference today.
Mr. President, this legislation would affect approximately 27,000 Indians living in eight States – Connecticut, Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. In New York State alone, about 10,000 of the State's 15,000 Indians live on nine State reservations. Because the governments of these eight States did not cede Indian reservations within their borders to the Federal Government at the time they joined the Union, these State reservations do not fall within Federal responsibility. Thus, as a result of a historic accident, thousands of American Indians residing on State reservations have been denied the benefits of many Federal programs because they were not inhabitants of "federally recognized tribes" within the definition of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
I have long been aware of this discrimination and have in the past introduced legislation which specifically included State Indian reservations in particular Federal programs, including the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965.
Mr. President, more than 100 acts of Congress, rules and regulations authorize aid and assistance to American Indians. Some of these acts confer on the Secretary of the Interior control over Indian property. Consequently, not all of these acts would be beneficial to State reservation Indians. The purpose of my bill is to qualify State reservation Indians, at their option, to participate in Federal Indian aid programs. This approach will insure full independence of State reservation tribes.
The numbers involved here are small, but the needs of these State reservation Indians are urgent and unmet. Like their brothers on Federal reservations, our State Indians have too often had policy imposed from without. They have been encouraged to sever their tribal and cultural ties. They have faced harassment, hostility, and discrimination in the world outside the reservation. Within the reservation they have faced despair and deterioration of the culture they hold dear and which gives them distinction as Americans.
Mr. President, the bill which I introduce today would provide a new approach toward fulfilling the needs of a unique group of Americans. I hope my colleagues will agree with me that it deserves speedy action during this session of Congress. I ask unanimous consent that the text ,of the bill be printed in the RECORD at this point.
There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:
S. 1460
A bill to make available to certain organized tribes, bands, or groups of Indians residing on Indian reservations established under State law certain benefits, care, or assistance for which federally recognized Indian tribes qualify as recipients
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That in the administration of all Federal programs and laws providing benefits, care, or assistance, financial or otherwise, to Indian tribes or members thereof, any organized tribe, band, or group of American Indians a majority of the members' of which reside on an Indian reservation established under the laws of a State, but which has not heretofore been recognized as an Indian tribe for purposes of such programs or laws, shall, in its discretion, be entitled to receive such benefits, care, and assistance for which federally recognized Indian tribes or members thereof qualify as recipients.