[DOCID: f:hr611.110]
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110th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 110-611
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PROVIDING FOR EXTENSIONS OF LEASES OF CERTAIN LAND BY MASHANTUCKET
PEQUOT (WESTERN) TRIBE
_______
April 29, 2008.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Rahall, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 2457]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred
the bill (S. 2457) to provide for extensions of leases of
certain land by the Mashantucket Pequot (Western) Tribe, having
considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment
and recommend that the bill do pass.
PURPOSE OF THE BILL
The purpose of S. 2457 is to provide for extensions of
leases of certain land by the Mashantucket Pequot (Western)
Tribe.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
The Mashantucket Pequot Tribe currently has the authority
to enter into leases on trust or restricted lands within the
boundaries of its reservation for a term of 25 years with no
option to renew. In an effort to diversify their economy, the
Tribe is currently engaged in discussions with prospective
partners to expand the hotel and retail businesses at their
Foxwoods Resort. The Tribe's financial adviser has advised the
Tribe that lenders will not finance the development of a new
hotel and retail stores unless the lease term is greater than
fifty years.
COMMITTEE ACTION
S. 2457 was introduced on December 12, 2007 by Senator
Joseph Lieberman (ID-CT). On February 5, 2008, the bill passed
the Senate with an amendment by unanimous consent. S. 2457 was
received in the House and referred to the Committee on Natural
Resources on February 7, 2008. On April 9, 2008, the Committee
on Natural Resources held a hearing on S. 2457. The Committee
on Natural Resources held a mark-up session on the bill on
April 17, 2008, and ordered the bill favorably reported to the
House of Representatives by unanimous consent.
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS
Section 1. Extensions of leases of certain land by Mashantucket Pequot
(Western) Tribe
Section 1(a) provides that any lease of restricted land of
the Mashantucket Pequot (Western) Tribe entered into by its
tribal corporation may include an option to renew the lease for
not more than two additional terms of up to 25 years each.
Section 1(b) provides that the United States shall not be
liable to any party for any loss resulting from a renewal of a
lease entered into pursuant to subsection (a).
Section 1(c) prohibits any entity from conducting gaming
activity on any land that is leased with an option to renew
under this Act.
COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.
CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT
Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United
States grants Congress the authority to enact this bill.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII
1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the
Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and
a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be
incurred in carrying out this bill. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B)
of that rule provides that this requirement does not apply when
the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted
cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
2. Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2)
of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this
bill does not contain any new budget authority, spending
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in
revenues or tax expenditures.
3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or
objective of this bill is to provide for extensions of leases
of certain land by the Mashantucket Pequot (Western) Tribe.
4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. Under clause
3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives and section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate
for this bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office:
S. 2457--An act to provide for extensions of leases of certain land by
Mashantucket Pequot (Western) Tribe
S. 2457 would authorize the Mashantucket Pequot (Western)
Tribe to lease certain lands to private entities for up to 75
years, rather than 25 years as under current law. The extension
of lease terms would not require approval by the Secretary of
the Interior. The legislation also would prohibit gaming
activities on such lands. Based on information from the Bureau
of Indian Affairs, CBO estimates that implementing S. 2457
would have no significant effect on the federal budget.
Enacting S. 2457 would not affect direct spending or revenues.
S. 2457 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and
would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Leigh Angres.
The estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Assistant
Director for Budget Analysis.
COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104-4
This bill contains no unfunded mandates.
EARMARK STATEMENT
S. 2457 does not contain any congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in
clause 9(d), 9(e) or 9(f) of rule XXI.
PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW
This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or
tribal law.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing
law.
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