house Bill H.R. 387
Should The Morongo Band of Mission Indians Be Able To Trade Tribal Land For Public Land?
Argument in favor
The tribe, the landowner, and the city of Banning have already reached an agreement. They just need approval from Congress to finalize the deal.
Argument opposed
This bill should include provisions to empower tribes to make exchanges with land held in trust by the federal government without congressional approval.
This is no different than a local matter except for the nature of one deedholder being the recipient of alodial tenancy from their aboriginal rights. A parcel swap is the obvious means of settling the dispute and the USA needs to butt out of the proceedings.
There has already been an agreement made where neither party looses. The Indian tribes need to be treated with a sense of equality not treated like children that need uncle Sam to look out for them.
Agreement is in the best interest of both parties, so yes. It also makes sense to consider eliminating congressional approval for future deals.
Congress doesn't need to deal with this but sure if everyone is happy
We need to entirely change how we work with Native American tribes. They've lost so much in treaty after treaty - we should no longer interfere in how they manage their property.
Why not? Native Americans have the right to so much more land than what that have, we should at least let them do what they want with their land.
If the local gov and tribes have agreed... Of course. Assuming individuals owning land nearby rights are being trampled upon
If there are public lands available and the public approves the trade, why not?
If it has already been agreed to...what is the big deal?
Mr. Fields bought the land with the assumption that he was not purchasing tribal land and had no for thought that he would be surrounded by future purchases by the tribe. Because of this he is being bullied into giving up his land he bought forth right, to settle the issue a land swap should take place to allow Mr. Fields to venture his property.
Why not? As long as it is done fairly I see no reason to oppose this.
Whatever the Indians want is what we should do. This was their land to begin with, so they must have the final say for all of their land.
No brainer. This should fly through congress. It is a shame that this needs approval and that there isn't a path of lesser resistance.
