Conyers, Rogers Lead Bipartisan Effort to Reject Unprecedented Expansion of Off-Reservation Indian Gambling

(Washington, DC)- Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI) are leading a bipartisan group of 53 members of Congress expressing opposition to legislation intended to circumvent restrictions for off-reservation Indian gambling.

The diverse group of lawmakers is strongly urging their colleagues to oppose two measures that would allow Tribes in Michigan to open casinos more than 350 miles outside the boundaries of their tribal lands. The legislation in question (H.R. 2176 and H.R. 4115) would provide special treatment to two Tribes, allowing them to sidestep the normal approval process required by the Department of Interior for off-reservation casino gambling.

The Tribes' effort to bypass the regular application process is particularly audacious considering the level of opposition these casino proposals face. The Department of the Interior, the Judiciary Committee, and the voters of the state of Michigan have all strongly rejected efforts to sidestep the established approval process. Moreover, state and federal courts have rejected tribal land claims necessary for these casinos.

"The House Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to oppose the special treatment sought for these tribal casinos," said Conyers. "It was a bipartisan rejection of a scheme to overturn the vote of Michigan citizens and circumvent the normal regulatory process. I am pleased that so many of my colleagues, from both sides of the aisle, have joined together to demand these Tribes seek off-reservation casino approval in the same manner that any other applicant would."

“Michigan citizens would be robbed of their voice regarding expansion of gambling if these measures are adopted,” Rogers said. “These are not land swap bills but casino bills that create a new shortcut to bypass established law. These invalid land claims have already failed in both federal and state court, and Congress is being asked to do an end-run around the American people by creating a loophole for developers to build new Indian casinos anywhere they please. We are fighting to protect against these unprecedented tactics.”

The two bills, H.R. 2176 and H.R. 4115, are expected to be considered on the House floor next week.

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