Stigler Act Amendments of 2018

Floor Speech

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Mr. GIANFORTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2606) to amend the Act of August 4, 1947 (commonly known as the Stigler Act), with respect to restrictions applicable to Indians of the Five Civilized Tribes of Oklahoma, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

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Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2606, the Stigler Act Amendments of 2018.

The bill would amend the 1947 Stigler Act to remove the Indian blood quantum requirement for certain land to be maintained in restricted fee status for any member of the Cherokee Nation, Chickasaw Nation, Choctaw Nation, Muscogee Creek Nation, and the Seminole Nation, which are collectively known as the Five Civilized Tribes of Oklahoma.

Under current law, when a person of less than one-half degree Indian blood from one of the Five Tribes inherits an interest of an allotment of land, the land can be taxed and be conveyed without approval of the Secretary of the Interior.

Under H.R. 2606, restricted fee land currently owned by members of the Five Tribes would remain in restricted status regardless of the blood quantum of the owners.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole) for his tireless work on issues impacting Indian Country, including this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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