Hearing of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee - Safeguarding the Integrity of Indian Gaming

Hearing

"Today the Committee will examine the status of Indian gaming regulation. It has been over 27 years since the enactment of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The industry has grown quickly.

"Once a $3 billion a year industry in 1995, Indian gaming now hovers around $28 billion a year. Money made from Indian gaming can have a significant impact on tribal communities.

"Revenues from Indian gaming often pay for schools, for roads, for health care, and other governmental services that benefit tribal members. To safeguard the integrity of that industry, in 2013, Senators Cantwell, McCain, Tester, and I requested the Government Accountability Office review Indian gaming regulation.

"The Committee received testimony regarding the preliminary findings of the Government Accountability Office during our hearing on July 23, 2014. The final report was issued on June 3, 2015.

"The report states that the Commission is not effectively promoting voluntary compliance with federal guidelines related to gaming regulatory standards. Furthermore, the report indicates that the current performance measures for training and technical assistance are not outcome-oriented.

"In fact, some of those measures do not even comply with the Office of Management and Budget guidance to agencies for measuring progress toward achieving intended results.

"Also troubling is that there is only one member of the Commission -- Chairman Chaudhuri. Congress established a three-member Commission under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act -- the Chairman and two associate members.

"Without the full membership, it is questionable how effectively the Commission may fulfill its statutory duties, such as adopting regulations, collecting civil fines, establishing rate fees, and addressing temporary orders closing a gaming facility.

"Earlier this week, Senator McCain and I sent a letter to the Secretary of the Interior, Secretary Jewell, urging her to appropriately and expeditiously appoint those Commission members.

"With so much at stake, we need to fully ensure that the integrity of Indian gaming remains strong for future generations."

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