PRINTER'S NO. 308
No. 29 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY BISHOP, BEBKO-JONES, BELARDI, CALTAGIRONE, CAPPABIANCA, M. COHEN, CURRY, DeLUCA, FRANKEL, GEORGE, HARHAI, LAUGHLIN, LEDERER, MANDERINO, MICOZZIE, MUNDY, PETRARCA, PETRONE, PISTELLA, READSHAW, ROBINSON, SHANER, THOMAS, C. WILLIAMS, WRIGHT, YOUNGBLOOD, WATERS AND J. WILLIAMS, JANUARY 31, 2001
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, JANUARY 31, 2001
A RESOLUTION 1 Directing appointment of a special committee to study rights of 2 Native Americans indigenous to this Commonwealth. 3 WHEREAS, This Commonwealth was historically the homeland of 4 diverse groups; and 5 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth has a duty and responsibility to 6 foster the awareness, understanding and appreciation of the many 7 and varied contributions to the quality of life made by its 8 diverse ethnic communities, including Native Americans; and 9 WHEREAS, It is in the public interest for the Commonwealth 10 and its citizens to identify, conserve and perpetuate the 11 diverse cultural and ethnic heritage of this Commonwealth and to 12 promote greater awareness and understanding for the education, 13 inspiration and the general public welfare of all the people, 14 including future generations; and 15 WHEREAS, It is in the shared interest of the Commonwealth and 16 groups in Pennsylvania to avoid misrepresentation of Native
1 American identity, culture and heritage; and 2 WHEREAS, It is in the shared interest of the Commonwealth and 3 groups in this Commonwealth to recognize groups indigenous to 4 Pennsylvania and certify Native American organizations; and 5 WHEREAS, Recognition will enable the Commonwealth to provide 6 access to Federal programs to eligible groups; therefore be it 7 RESOLVED, That a Special Committee on Recognition of Native 8 Americans in Pennsylvania be established, consisting of four 9 representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of 10 Representatives and three representatives appointed by the 11 Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; and be it 12 further 13 RESOLVED, That the committee conduct a study of recognition 14 of the rights of Native American tribes, bands, groups and 15 clans, who are indigenous to this Commonwealth, who have been 16 identified as Native American from before 1790 until the present 17 and who have been part of a continuous Native American community 18 from before 1790 until the present; and be it further 19 RESOLVED, That the committee study historical documentation 20 on long-standing relationships of the group with the government 21 of the Commonwealth or the United States based on identification 22 of the group or the group's members as Native American, 23 documentation on repeated dealings of the group with a county or 24 other local government in a relationship based on the 25 identification of the group or group's members as Native 26 Americans, documentation on repeated dealings of the group with 27 other federally or State recognized groups or national Native 28 American organizations in a relationship based on identification 29 of the group as Native American, documentation on identification 30 of the group as Native American by scholars, documentation on 20010H0029R0308 - 2 -
1 repeated identification of the group or group's members as 2 Native American in official and unofficial records and 3 documentation identifying the name of the group or other term 4 recognizing the group as Native American with an approximate 5 location in this Commonwealth from before 1790 until the 6 present; and be it further 7 RESOLVED, That the committee study historical documentation 8 of membership criteria of the group which address membership 9 procedures adopted by the group and of a list of all individuals 10 included on the group's current and previous rolls and the 11 county in which each resides; and be it further 12 RESOLVED, That the committee study other evidence, including 13 affidavits from federally or State recognized tribal elders, 14 tribal leaders or tribal officials; and be it further 15 RESOLVED, That the committee make every effort to protect the 16 privacy of individuals; and be it further 17 RESOLVED, That the committee be empowered to hold hearings, 18 take testimony and make its investigations at such places as it 19 deems necessary in this Commonwealth and that each member of the 20 committee have power to administer oaths and affirmations to 21 witnesses appearing before the committee; and be it further 22 RESOLVED, That the committee be empowered to issue subpoenas 23 under the hand and seal of its chairperson commanding any person 24 to appear before the committee and to answer questions touching 25 matters properly being inquired into by the committee and to 26 produce records and documents the committee deems necessary; and 27 be it further 28 RESOLVED, That subpoenas be able to be served upon any person 29 and have the same effect as subpoenas issued out of the courts 30 of this Commonwealth and that any person who willfully neglects 20010H0029R0308 - 3 -
1 or refuses to testify before the committee or to produce records 2 or documents be subject to the penalties provided by the laws of 3 this Commonwealth in such case; and be it further 4 RESOLVED, That the committee make a report to the House of 5 Representatives making recommendations on legislation 6 recognizing the status and rights of Native Americans in this 7 Commonwealth; and be it further 8 RESOLVED, That the expenses incurred by the committee in 9 carrying out its responsibilities, including per diem and travel 10 expenses incurred by members and regular staff, stenographic 11 charges and other incidental expenses, be paid from appropriate 12 accounts under the control of the Chief Clerk of the House of 13 Representatives and be in addition to any other amount 14 authorized for expenses for contractors, consultants and staff; 15 and be it further 16 RESOLVED, That the chairperson make a monthly report of all 17 expenses incurred by the committee to each member of the 18 committee and to the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader of 19 the House of Representatives and, within 30 calendar days after 20 the committee has made its report or the mandate of the 21 committee has expired, cause a record of all expenses incurred 22 by the committee, or the members thereof, which are payable at 23 Commonwealth expense to be filed with the Chief Clerk of the 24 House of Representatives. L11L82VDL/20010H0029R0308 - 4 -