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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Tigua Indians of Ysleta del Sur Pueblo of El Paso |
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are governed under a 1987 federal law, known as The Restoration Act |
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(25 U.S.C. Section 1300g et seq.), which restored the tribe to |
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federal jurisdiction; and |
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WHEREAS, The Restoration Act preceded the Indian Gaming |
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Regulatory Act (IGRA) by a year, and Section 1300g-6 of the |
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Restoration Act includes the following language: "All gaming |
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activities which are prohibited by the laws of the State of Texas |
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are hereby prohibited on the reservation and on the lands of the |
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tribe"; as a result, the Tiguas entered the gaming industry only |
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after Texas voters approved several forms of gambling in 1991; and |
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WHEREAS, The tribe's Speaking Rock Casino and Entertainment |
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Center earned some $60 million a year and provided its 1,300 members |
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with jobs, free health insurance, and college scholarships; |
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however, since a federal court ruling closed the casino, the tribe |
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has struggled to sustain itself; and |
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WHEREAS, In contrast, the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas |
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in Eagle Pass was extended federal recognition in 1983 and is not |
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subject to the same gaming prohibition as the Tigua tribe; the |
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Kickapoos operate the Lucky Eagle Casino, which is subject to the |
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provisions of the IGRA and oversight by the National Indian Gaming |
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Commission; all tribal members are employed by the casino, and the |
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profits have enabled the tribe to build more housing and to |
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subsidize the education of its young people; and |
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WHEREAS, Because it is not governed by the Indian Gaming |
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Regulatory Act, the Tigua tribe is denied the opportunity to |
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benefit economically from gaming profits and, in turn, the ability |
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to help improve tribal members' lives; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby express its support for efforts by the federal |
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government to amend The Restoration Act by eliminating 25 U.S.C. |
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Section 1300g-6; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the chief clerk forward an official copy of |
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this resolution to the presiding officers of the United States |
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Congress and to all the members of the Texas delegation to Congress. |