IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1187 

Commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act 

of 1988. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 21, 2018 

Mrs. TORRES (for herself, Mr. COLE, Mr. GALLEGO, Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, 

Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. GRIJALVA, and Mr. CA ́RDENAS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

Natural Resources 

RESOLUTION 

Commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Indian Gaming 

Regulatory Act of 1988. 

Whereas the United States and Indian Tribes have a unique 

Government-to-Government relationship set out in the 

Constitution, treaties, and statutes and affirmed through 

centuries of court precedent; 

Whereas it is a principal goal of Federal Indian policy to promote Tribal economic development, Tribal self-sufficiency, and strong Tribal Governments; 

Whereas the Supreme Court’s landmark 1987 decision in 

California v. Cabazon Band of Mission Indians recognized the inherent sovereign authority of Indian Tribes to 

regulate gaming within their Tribal jurisdictions; 


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•HRES 1187 IH 

Whereas the ruling opened the door for the 100th United 

States Congress to enact the Indian Gaming Regulatory 

Act to foster Tribal economic development and regulate 

Indian gaming which has ultimately revitalized Tribal 

economies across Indian country; 

Whereas Congress wrote the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act 

of 1988 to carefully balance Tribal, Federal, and State 

government interests; 

Whereas the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 aims to 

strengthen Tribal self-sufficiency and self-determination, 

promote economic development, and protect the integrity 

of Indian gaming to ensure that Indian Tribes are the 

primary beneficiaries of their gaming operations; 

Whereas Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act 

of 1988 on September 27, 1988, and President Reagan 

signed the Act into law on October 17, 1988; 

Whereas, as a result of the enactment of the Indian Gaming 

Regulatory Act of 1988, the American public has not 

only seen economic improvements in Tribal communities, 

they have also benefitted from the economic development 

Indian gaming generates in local communities surrounding reservations; 

Whereas in the 30 years since the passage of the Indian 

Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988, Indian gaming has responsibly grown to provide a steady source of revenue for 

more than 240 Tribes in 29 States; 

Whereas according to the National Indian Gaming Commission, as of 2017, Indian gaming has grown into a 

$32,400,000,000 industry that is rebuilding Native 

American communities, educating a generation of new 


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•HRES 1187 IH 

Native leaders, and providing jobs to nearly 700,000 

American families across the country; 

Whereas throughout Indian country, Indian gaming has enabled Tribal Governments to make significant investments in education, health care, social services, and cultural preservation; 

Whereas past Federal policies of forced assimilation and relocation sought to suppress Native language, culture, and 

religion, Indian gaming is helping empower Tribes to preserve and foster Native culture by funding Tribal programs that promote and elevate Native identity; 

Whereas there are still Tribal communities that are not able 

to prosper through gaming and still too many Tribal 

communities that remain impoverished; 

Whereas the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 remains 

a vital tool for Tribal self-determination and economic development; and 

Whereas the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act has served as a 

central pillar upholding the integrity of Indian gaming: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives com2 memorates the 30th anniversary of the enactment of In3 dian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988. 

Æ 


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