Alabama-Coushatta Tribe turns to Congress after hitting end of road at Supreme Court
Monday, January 27, 2020
From left: Chairperson
Cecilia Flores of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and
Rep. Bruce Babin (R-Texas). Photo: SupportACTribe
The Alabama-Coushatta
Tribe won't be able to argue for its gaming rights at the nation's highest court.
In a January 13 order list [see top of page 5], the U.S. Supreme Court declined to grant the petition in Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas v. State of Texas.
The action means an appeals court ruling that went against the tribe's sovereignty will stand.
But the fight for equal treatment is far from over. A bipartisan bill that recognizes the tribe's gaming rights already passed the U.S. House of Representatives and awaits movement in the U.S. Senate.
“We are trying to get the word out, trying to tell our story, and tell how important this is to East Texas,” Chairwoman Cecilia Flores told The Tyler County Booster.
The Alabama-Coushatta
Tribe owns and operates Naskila Gaming, a Class II facility in Livingston, Texas. Photo: Naskila Gaming H.R.759,
the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas Equal and Fair
Opportunity Settlement Act. It puts the the Alabama-Coushatta
Tribe and the Ysleta
del Sur Pueblo, also known as the Tigua Tribe, on the same footing as nearly every other Indian nation when it comes to gaming.
The Democratic-controlled House passed H.R.759 under a suspension of the rules on July 24. It was considered non-controversial -- no one outright opposed it, although one Republican noted that the governor of Texas does not support the measure.
As a result, the bill is being held up in the Senate, which is in Republican hands, Flores told The Booster. Sen. John Cornyn
(R-Texas) has asked the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs not to move forward until the concerns of the state can be resolved, the paper reported.
The state, however, didn't mention any issues with the legislation when it responded to the tribe's Supreme Court petition last month. On the contrary, it described the Congressional push as a "ready avenue" for the Alabama-Coushatta, as well as the Tigua, whose gaming rights also have been limited.
"There is no need for this court’s involvement to provide the gaming permission the tribe seeks," the December 9 brief reads. "The two Restoration Act tribes have a ready avenue to redress their grievances through Congress."
"The House passed that bill in July with bipartisan support, and it is now awaiting Senate action," the brief continued.