Witnesses: Hearing on bill to bar Tohono O'odham Nation casino

Artist's rendering of the proposed West Valley Resort. Image from Tohono O'odham Nation

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee holds a hearing tomorrow on S.2670, the Keep the Promise Act.

The bill bars all forms of Class II or Class III gaming on any lands acquired in trust in the metro Phoenix area after April 9, 2013. It doesn't mention any tribes by name but it was written to prevent the Tohono O'odham Nation from opening an off-reservation casino even though the tribe has won a series of court rulings confirming its right to acquire the land.

The hearing takes place at 2:15pm in Room 628 of the Senate Dirksen Office Building. The witness list follows:
The Honorable Kevin Washburn
Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs-U.S. Department of the Interior

Panel 1
The Honorable Gregory Mendoza
Governor-Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation

The Honorable Ned Norris Jr.
Chairman-Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona

The Honorable Jerry Weiers
Mayor-City of Glendale

The Honorable Gary Sherwood
Councilmember-City of Glendale

Committee Notice:
Legislative Hearing on S. 2670, Keep the Promise Act of 2014 (September 17, 2014)

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