From Herald Online – The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Gila River Indian Community, the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and the Pueblo of Zuni applaud the bipartisan action of the U.S. House National Resources Committee who, today, approved H.R. 1410, the Keep the Promise Act. By a vote of 35 to 5 the Committee acted swiftly to reaffirm the commitments made to Arizona residents who voted “yes” on Proposition 202 — the Indian Gaming Preservation and Self-Reliance Act of 2002. Importantly, the action of the Congressional committee clears the way for the legislation to be considered by the full body of the House of Representatives in the coming weeks.

H.R. 1410 was introduced by Arizona Congressional Representatives Trent Franks, Ed Pastor, Ann Kirkpatrick, Paul Gosar, David Schweikert and Matt Salmon; in collaboration with Representatives Jared Huffman, John Conyers and Dan Kildee. It is endorsed by many Arizona tribes because it assures that the terms of the current compacts are kept intact. Sixteen of the 17 Arizona tribes were united by the “balanced” vision for Indian Gaming in Arizona that was at the heart of Prop 202; a vision shared among their communities, state officials and elected leaders. Upon passage of H.R. 1410 tribal leaders remarked: