House subcommittee sets hearing on gaming land standards

Friday, September 13, 2013  

The House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs will hold a hearing next week to discuss standards for land-in-trust decisions for gaming purposes.

Generally, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act bars gaming on land acquired after 1988. But there are exceptions to the rule that have been the subject of controversy (Tohono O'odham Nation) and that have been in the media lately (Menominee Nation).

The Bush administration adopted a guidance memo in January 2008 that barred nearly every off-reservation application. The administration also finalized regulations for Section 20 of IGRA that tightened the criteria for gaming on newly acquired lands and took other steps to discourage or deny off-reservation casinos.

The Obama administration rescinded the guidance memo in June 2011. Since then, the Bureau of Indian Affairs has approved off-reservation casinos for a handful of tribes.

Next week's hearing takes place at 2pm in Room 1324 of the Longworth House Office Building. A witness list hasn't been posted online but Assistant Secretary Kevin Washburn, the head of the BIA, is expected to testify.

Committee Notice:
Oversight Hearing titled “Executive Branch standards for land-in-trust decisions for gaming purposes.” (September 19, 2013)