Campbell Introduces Indian Gaming Reform, Indian Economic Development Bills
Washington, D.C. - Before the Senate adjourned for the evening on
July 31, Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO) introduced two
measures to encourage business and economic development on Indian
lands and a sweeping series of amendments to the 1988 Indian Gaming
Regulatory Act (IGRA).
The "Tribal Government Tax Exempt Bond Fairness Act of 2003" amends
the Internal Revenue Code to treat Indian tribal governments the
same as state governments when it comes to issuing tax-exempt bonds
for development purposes.
"For the last 30 years we have seen that when the tribes are
unshackled from laws and regulations they do great things for their
people, and in cases of issuing tax-exempt bonds they should be
treated the same as state governments", said Campbell, the Chairman
of the Committee on Indian Affairs.
The other economic development bill is the "Indian Tribal Development
Consolidated Funding Act of 2003" which authorizes tribes to
consolidate and target existing Federal programs and services aimed
to assist tribes in their development efforts.
"Federal agencies spend hundreds of millions of dollars every year on
Indian development and they don't work together to maximize their
efforts. The benefits we expect to Indian communities and the
improvements to Indian living standards are just not happening.
"We owe it to the Indian people and the taxpayers to make sure that
these programs work and do what they are supposed to do", Campbell
said.
Campbell also introduced the "Indian Gaming Regulatory Act Amendments
of 2003" to clarify the law to limit litigation, provide additional
resources to the Federal National Indian Gaming Commission, mandate
minimum standards for all gaming operations, and provide guidance
to the Interior Department in their review of revenue-sharing
provisions in tribal-state compacts.
"Indian gaming has made great strides in the last 15 years and the
statute needs to be updated to take that into consideration. This
bill is reasonable and necessary and I hope the tribes and the
Administration will be supportive of it", remarked Campbell, the
lone American Indian in the Senate.
Campbell said the three measures will receive prompt consideration
in September when the Senate returns from its summer recess.
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CONTACT: Paul Moorehead 202-224-2251
August 1, 2003