House fails to pass bill promoting tribal commerce with Turkey

Wednesday, July 25, 2012  

The House failed to pass H.R.2362, the Indian Tribal Trade and Investment Demonstration Project Act, under a suspension of the rules on Monday.

A two-thirds majority was required to approve the bill, which promotes tribal trade with Turkey and other World Trade Organization member nations. But the measure failed by a vote of 222 to 160.

The bill was controversial due to Turkey's human rights record. Some also noted that H.R. 205, the HEARTH Act, includes similar provisions to cut the Bureau of Indian Affairs out of the approval process for certain tribal agreements.

The HEARTH Act has cleared Congress and President Barack Obama said he will sign it.

Get the Story:
Failure of Oklahoma Rep. Tom Cole’s bill to help American Indian tribes linked to animosity toward Turkey (The Oklahoman 7/25)
In The Loop: Turkey, Native Americans: An odd pairing in a failed bill (The Washington Post 7/24)
Turkish investment on tribal lands gets blocked (The Hürriyet Daily News 7/24)
U.S. House Votes Down Pro-Turkey Trade Bill (Armenian Weekly 7/24)

President Obama plans to sign Indian housing measure into law (7/18)
House Natural Resources Committee markup on 3 Indian bills (11/17)
Indian and Alaska Native Affairs Subcommittee hears bills (11/04)
Indian and Alaska Native Affairs Subcommittee sets hearing (11/2)