Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, proponents of this bill claim that it will guarantee greater local control. But for my constituents, nothing could be further from the truth.

More than 5 years ago, the community of Beloit, Wisconsin, began working with the Bad River Band and the St. Croix Chippewa Indians to build a casino in their community. My constituents, through a referendum, expressed their very strong support for this project, and local governments have worked hand-in-hand with the tribes on a project that the community deems important to their economic development.

For 5 years they have played by the rules and they are now in the last weeks of the approval process. Now, as the community anticipates a final decision on the tribe's application, this bill abruptly changes the rules, possibly denying the local community what they seek.

The citizens of Beloit, the local governments in the area, and the tribes who seek to develop this project, are not seeking any special treatment. They simply want, and deserve, a fair decision on the merits of their application. After 5 years of following a fair process, this is no time to change the rules.

I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill