This week, U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2455, the Nevada Native Nations Lands Act. The legislation, guided through the House of Representatives by Congressman Mark Amodei (NV-02), spurs economic development for six northern Nevada tribes:
“The transfer of this land puts power back into the hands of local tribes and their communities. They are the ones best suited to make decisions on economic development and job creation. Much of the land will be used for residential housing, commercial growth, outdoor recreation, and cultural activities. These are all very important purposes benefitting the residents of Nevada. I would like to thank Congressman Amodei for his leadership with this legislation in the House. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Senate to send this proposal to the President for signature before the end of the 113thCongress.”
After it was amended on the House floor, Congressman Amodei’s H.R.2455 mirrors the Senate companion worked on by Senators Heller and Reid. S.2480 passed the Senate Indian Affairs Committee by a voice vote on June 26, 2014, and awaits consideration by the full Senate.
The six tribes affected by this legislation are the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians, the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, the Shoshone Paiute Tribes of Duck Valley, the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, the Summit Lake Paiute, and the Ft. McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe.
