MAJORITY WHIPLINE: TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2019

Floor Schedule and Procedure:

Consideration of the Veto Message on H.J.Res. 46 – Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on February 15, 2019 (Rep. Castro – Transportation and Infrastructure)

This is a joint resolution to terminate Proclamation 9844 of February 15, 2019, in which the President declared a national emergency concerning the U.S. southern border.  H.J.Res. 46 passed the House with a vote of 245 to 182 on February 26th and the Senate with a vote of 59 to 41 on March 14th. The President subsequently vetoed the resolution on March 18th. “The question is will the House, on reconsideration, pass the joint resolution, the objections of the President to the contrary notwithstanding?”

The Veto Message allows for one hour of debate controlled by the Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Suspensions (2 bills):

1. H.R. 1388 – Lytton Rancheria Homelands Act of 2019 (Rep. Huffman – Natural Resources)

This bill would place approximately 511 acres of non-contiguous parcels of land owned by the Lytton Rancheria in California into trust for the benefit of the Tribe, subject to valid existing rights, contracts, and management agreements related to easements and rights-of-way. Gaming would be prohibited on these lands. The Tribe has a Memorandum of Agreement with Sonoma County concerning the land which is enshrined in the legislation. The previous version of this legislation (H.R. 597 in the 115th Congress) passed the House by voice vote on July 11, 2017.

2. H.R. 297 – Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians Restoration Act of 2019 (Rep. Gianforte – Natural Resources)

This bill formally extends federal recognition to the Little Shell Tribe, making all federal laws and regulations of general applicability to Indians and Indian tribes, applicable to Little Shell and its members. Since Little Shell is currently without a land base, the Act establishes a tribal service area for service delivery and benefits and makes clear that each member of Little Shell will be eligible for all services and benefits provided by the United States, regardless of their location. The Secretary of the Interior is to acquire trust title to 200 acres within the new tribal service area to serve as a land base for the Tribe. Additional land may be acquired for the benefit of the Tribe, in accordance with the Indian Reorganization Act. The previous version of this legislation (H.R. 3764 in the 115th Congress) passed the House by voice vote on September 12, 2018.

“A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.”

Rosalynn Carter