Senate passes Bridgeport land-into-trust, Pascua Yaqui bills

Wednesday, December 12, 2012  

The Senate approved two Indian bills by unanimous consent on Tuesday.

H.R.2467 places approximately 39.36 acres in trust for the Bridgeport Indian Colony of California. The tribe gained federal recognition in 1974.

“H.R. 2467 calls for land in Mono County, California to be taken into trust for the Bridgeport Indian Colony. Access to land is essential for any community to be able to grow and flourish. The passage of this bill will allow the Bridgeport Indian Colony to provide more government services for their members," said Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), the chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, said in a press release.

H.R. 3319 allows the Pascua Yaqui Tribe to determine the requirements for membership in that tribe. The tribe gained federal recognition through an act of Congress in 1964 that limited who could enroll.

“H.R. 3319 will allow the Pascua Yaqui Tribe to determine its own membership requirements and will bring parity to them as the majority of federally recognized tribes that are not under such burdensome restrictions," Akaka said.

Both bills already passed the House. They can now be sent to President Barack Obama for his signature.

“I am pleased that my colleagues in the Senate and House of Representatives worked in a bi-partisan fashion to unanimously pass these important bills,” said Akaka.