Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 2 minutes.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank the chairman for his leadership on this bill and for the support of this amendment.

Madam Speaker, in 1620, 400 years ago, the Pilgrims settled on Wampanoag land in Plymouth, Massachusetts. For literally four centuries, the Mashpee Wampanoag people have been fighting for their sovereignty, for their land, and for their survival. And for generations, they have been met with resistance from a government that should be protecting and empowering them.

In the last few months, Madam Speaker, their fight has arrived at a crossroads created by a Trump administration that has treated Tribes with nothing but contempt since the day of his inauguration.

Because of decisions made by this administration, the Mashpee Wampanoag's land may be stolen from them again in the coming weeks.

We have a responsibility to do what is right, to learn from the mistakes of generations before us, to recognize that this land wasn't land to be discovered or to be taken. It belonged to Tribes like the Mashpee long before the Pilgrims arrived.

Madam Speaker, we need to pass this amendment to right the wrongs of the past, to prevent them from becoming the wrongs of the present.

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Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Keating).

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Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I stand today with my colleagues from Massachusetts in support of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and in support of Tribal sovereignty, and I ask my colleagues to pass this amendment.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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