HR 2388 - 7.23.13

Statement for the Record

Department of the Interior

United States Department of the Interior

Before the

Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs

House Natural Resources Committee

U.S. House of Representatives

on

H.R. 2388, Land into Trust for the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians

July 23, 2013

Thank you for the opportunity to testify on H.R. 2388 which would take into trust approximately 40 acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM)-managed lands for the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians. The Department supports H.R. 2388.

Background

On December 16, 1916, the Secretary of the Interior purchased the 160-acre Shingle Springs Rancheria east of Sacramento in El Dorado County, California at the request of the Sacramento-Verona Band of Miwok Indians.Today's members of the Shingle Springs Rancheria are descendants of the Miwok and Maidu Indians who once lived in this region. Currently, there are approximately 500 enrolled members of the Tribe, with about 140 living on the Rancheria.The tribe has expressed an interest in expanding the Rancheria by adding adjacent BLM-managed lands for improved access and additional residential housing for the tribe.

H.R. 2388

H.R. 2388 directs the Secretary of the Interior to take into trust approximately 40 acres of BLM-managed lands adjacent to the Shingle Springs Rancheria.This 40-acre parcel is isolated from other BLM-managed lands.This action would be subject to valid existing rights and management agreements related to easements and rights-of-way.Under the bill, class II and class III gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) is prohibited on these lands.

The Department supports conveying these lands into trust for the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians.

Conclusion

Thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of this legislation which will provide important benefits to the Shingle Springs Bank of Miwok Indians.

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