RECAP: National Indian Gaming Commission nominee outlines vision in Trump era

Thursday, July 25, 2019  

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The National Indian Gaming Commission is about to enter a new era, one under President Donald Trump's leadership.

The independent federal agency oversees the $32 billion, and growing, tribal gaming industry. And for the first time in a decade, it's about to be led by a Republican-picked chairman.

Trump's choice to lead the agency is E. Sequoyah Simermeyer, a citizen of the Coharie Tribe, an Indian nation recognized by the state of North Carolina. He's served as an Associate Commissioner at the NIGC since November 2015 and is slated to gain a big promotion after going before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs for his confirmation hearing on Wednesday.

"The tribal gaming industry represents an American success story," Simermeyer said at the sparsely-attended proceeding on Capitol Hill.

Should be confirmed by the full U.S. Senate, Simermeyer said he would work collaboratively with tribes and other stakeholders to protect the integrity of the Indian gaming industry. He also vowed to focus on matters requiring decisions at the NIGC to ensure there are no backlogs and to work closely with the staff, calling them "great front line folks."

Simermeyer sidestepped two major questions during the hearing, which was interrupted by a series of votes on the Senate floor. He refused to say whether he agreed with a recent federal appeals court decision that prevents tribes in several Western states from asking the federal government, as their trustee, to authorize gaming on their homelands.

Simermeyer told Sen. Tom Udall (D-New Mexico), whose state is one of those affected by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals decision, that the NIGC does not play a role in issuing Class III gaming procedures in situations where states refuse to come to the table. He instead pointed to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, a different federal agency.

Simermeyer also refused to explain why he declined -- not just once but twice -- to join final NIGC decisions in favor of the Ponca Tribe, whose leadership was finally able to open a casino last fall in Iowa after more than a decade of work. He cited ongoing litigation from the states of Iowa and Nebraska as the reason for his reticence.

Despite the lack of answers, Udall said he would recommend the committee move swiftly on the nomination. The next step in the process would be a business meeting to advance Simermeyer to the Senate floor.

Catch up on the hearing with a social media recap.

Happening Soon: The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs @IndianCommittee will hear from E. Sequoyah Simermeyer, who has been nominated to serve as Chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission @NIGCgov. Full Written Statement: https://t.co/auorCkQyK2 pic.twitter.com/3DINzo6MjP

— indianz.com (@indianz) July 24, 2019

"If given the opportunity to help lead the National Indian Gaming Commission as its chairman, I will work w/my colleagues on the Commission, w/tribal governments, with leadership across all regulatory bodies involved in the Indian gaming industry & w/other industry stakeholders."

— indianz.com (@indianz) July 24, 2019

E. Sequoyah Simermeyer, seated, is here with family as he prepares to testify before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs @IndianCommittee to serve as Chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission @NIGCgov. Webcast: https://t.co/cl9YNsEywg

— indianz.com (@indianz) July 24, 2019

pic.twitter.com/3cF15hN90f

— indianz.com (@indianz) July 24, 2019

The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs is starting off with a business meeting. The sole item is S.2159, the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation Criminal Jurisdiction Retrocession Act. The bill repeals termination-era law that subjects Spirit Lake Nation to North Dakota jurisdiction. pic.twitter.com/PGG2Ven8bB

— indianz.com (@indianz) July 24, 2019

By a voice vote, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs approved S.2159, the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation Criminal Jurisdiction Retrocession Act, at the business meeting. It can now be considered by the full Senate. Learn more about the bill here: https://t.co/WlsejAjSCt

— indianz.com (@indianz) July 24, 2019

The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs @IndianCommittee is now getting ready to hear from E. Sequoyah Simermeyer, who has been nominated to serve as Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission. Simermeyer currently serves as an Associate Commissioner @NIGCgov. pic.twitter.com/ypad6vuW9q

— indianz.com (@indianz) July 24, 2019

E. Sequoyah Simermeyer agreed to tell the truth to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs @IndianCommittee as he was sworn in to testify at his nomination hearing to serve as Chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission @NIGCgov. He was nominated by President Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/BJVkmHiWoO

— indianz.com (@indianz) July 24, 2019

"The tribal gaming industry represents an American success story," E. Sequoyah Simermeyer tells the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs @IndianCommittee at his nomination hearing to serve as Chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission. Simermeyer has worked @nigcgov since 2015. pic.twitter.com/maA4opjyIz

— indianz.com (@indianz) July 24, 2019

In response to Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM), National Indian Gaming Commission nominee Sequoyah Simermeyer won’t say whether he agrees with a recent appeals court decision that restricts tribal gaming rights. "Tribes are stuck," @SenatorTomUdall notes, including those in #NewMexico. pic.twitter.com/uQ5fhYzQ5H

— indianz.com (@indianz) July 24, 2019

The negative federal appeals court decision prevents tribes from going to the federal government, as their trustee, when states refuse to negotiate in good faith. Learn more about the case here: https://t.co/niWnxyj7fW

— indianz.com (@indianz) July 24, 2019

In response to Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Sequoyah Simermeyer said the National Indian Gaming Commission "won't stand in the way" of sports betting when it arises. He calls sports betting a "Class III operation” usually requiring a tribal-state Class III gaming compact. pic.twitter.com/Qg1pLUTakc

— indianz.com (@indianz) July 24, 2019

In response to Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM), National Indian Gaming Commission nominee Sequoyah Simermeyer agrees to consult tribes and Congress before attempting to reorganize @nigcgov. “Absolutely,” he told @SenatorTomUdall at nomination hearing before Senate Indian Affairs Committee. pic.twitter.com/oB9k6nypN9

— indianz.com (@indianz) July 24, 2019

In response to Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Sequoyah Simermeyer said the National Indian Gaming Commission will continue to support anti-human trafficking efforts at tribal casinos. Cortez Masto is co-sponsor of Savanna's Act and Not Invisible Act to address #MMIW crisis. pic.twitter.com/gjiMrqfbTp

— indianz.com (@indianz) July 24, 2019

* S.227 - Savanna's Act, named in memory of Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, a 22-year-old Spirit Lake Nation who was kidnapped and murdered when she was eight months pregnant. Her baby miraculously survived. The bill requires federal report on #MMIW cases. https://t.co/osDZaVvfq8

— indianz.com (@indianz) July 24, 2019

* S.982 - Not Invisible Act, a bill to improve tribal, federal and state response to missing, murdered and trafficked Native Americans. Creates advisory commission of survivors of trafficking and family members of the missing and murdered. #MMIW https://t.co/v3PxTfrZEx

— indianz.com (@indianz) July 24, 2019

Learn more about S.227, Savanna's Act, and S.982, the Not Invisible Act, here: https://t.co/0AAdVFOBaI

— indianz.com (@indianz) July 24, 2019

The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs @IndianCommittee is currently in recess while members vote on the Senate floor. The committee has been taking testimony from Sequoyah Simermeyer, nominated by President Trump to serve as Chair of National Indian Gaming Commission @NIGCgov.

— indianz.com (@indianz) July 24, 2019

The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs @IndianCommittee is back from recess! Members are hearing from Sequoyah Simermeyer, who has been nominated by President Trump to serve as Chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission @NIGCgov. pic.twitter.com/EPIWRzrNRm

— indianz.com (@indianz) July 24, 2019

In response to Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND), National Indian Gaming Commission nominee Sequoyah Simermeyer said @NIGCgov can't return carryover funds to tribes who fund agency. "There’s legal guidance that doesn’t make that possible," Simermeyer tells Senate Indian Affairs Committee. pic.twitter.com/cW04YCjNAq

— indianz.com (@indianz) July 24, 2019

In response to Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM), National Indian Gaming Commission nominee Sequoyah Simermeyer won't say why he voted against a decision to recognize the sovereign rights of the Ponca Tribe. He cites pending litigation from the states of Iowa and Nebraska over new casino. pic.twitter.com/tDI8gZ2KDM

— indianz.com (@indianz) July 24, 2019

The Ponca Tribe opened the Prairie Flower Casino after the National Indian Gaming Commission confirmed that the tribe can engage in gaming on its own trust lands. The facility is named for Prairie Flower, a daughter of Chief Standing Bear who died on the Ponca Trail of Tears.

— indianz.com (@indianz) July 24, 2019

Learn more about the Ponca Tribe's long struggle for sovereignty, from forced removal and the return to its homelands, followed by termination and then restoration of its federal status: https://t.co/HtLOYMQylK

— indianz.com (@indianz) July 24, 2019

The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing is over! Sen. Tom Udall (D-New Mexico) said he would recommend swift action on Sequoyah Simermeyer to serve as Chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission. @IndianCommittee @NIGCgov @SenatorTomUdall pic.twitter.com/O1ejRDbsYk

— indianz.com (@indianz) July 24, 2019