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Washington, DC -- Today Congressman David Wu took his fight to protect the Columbia River Gorge to the United States Senate. Congressman Wu joined members of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in a hearing convened by Senator John McCain (R-AZ).
"I appreciate the opportunity to fight for what is right for Oregon in the United States Senate in addition to my efforts in the House of Representatives. If the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act is amended in any way, the proposals must be developed and discussed in the light of day. An open, transparent government is the not only the right way, it is the Oregon way," stated Congressman Wu. "Back-room deals resulting in loopholes that permit the development of a gambling casino complex in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge will not be tolerated by Oregonians."
Just as Congressman Wu did today and has in the past on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, he intends to continue to fight to protect the Columbia River Gorge and to highlight the influence special interest has had on legislative proposals to amend the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Legislative proposals in both the Senate and the House include exceptions that would allow the development of a gambling casino complex in the Gorge.
Today's hearing focused specifically on Section 20 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act which governs the two-part determination procedures for gaming on newly acquired lands. The law requires the tribe to gain the consent of the respective governor as well as the United States Secretary of the Interior. Witnesses providing testimony included representatives from the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs, the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, Hood River County and Friends of the Columbia Gorge.
The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation is currently working through the two-part determination process and was used as a case study in today's Senate hearing. Senator McCain is developing legislation to update the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act; federal law that was developed long before Indian gaming grew to be a $20 billion industry. Senator McCain sought to learn from the current debate over the development of a gambling casino complex in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
Just as Senator McCain carried out today's hearing, Congressman Wu will work to see that any further discussions about legislative proposals are inclusive and debated in public. Congressman Wu believes too much is at stake, for the Gorge and all tribes, for any legislation to be drafted behind closed doors and with limited input.
BACKGROUND: In December 2005, Senator McCain announced his intention to hold more hearings on off-reservation gaming and Indian gaming on recently-acquired lands. According to Senator McCain's office, he intends to examine not only proposals to stem the proliferation of gaming on newly acquired land, but also to further examine the administrative process by which lands for gaming are taken into trust.
At that time, Senator McCain stated, “When Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in 1988, no one foresaw that Indian gaming would become as wide-spread or as far removed from existing reservations as it has. It is time for Congress to re-examine the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, and its implementation, to determine what amendments are warranted.”
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