Mashpee Wampanoag Bill In Trump's Crosshairs Passes House

MASHPEE, MA — Legislation reaffirming the Mashpee Wampanoag reservation as trust land in Massachusetts passed the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday, a week after a presidential tweet delayed what was expected to be a quick vote.

The House Committee on Natural Resources planned on fast-tracking H.R. 312, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation Reaffirmation Act, which would have required a super-majority of the House. Despite having several Republican sponsors, GOP support for the bill was questioned after it fell in the president's crosshairs.

"Republicans shouldn't vote for H.R. 312, a special interest casino Bill, backed by Elizabeth (Pocahontas) Warren," President Trump tweeted May 8. "It is unfair and doesn't treat Native Americans equally!"

In 2018, the Interior Department reversed an Obama-era decision that granted the Mashpee Wampanoag land under an interpretation of the Indian Reorganization Act. H.R. 312 would effectively grant the Wampanoag back their land.

The bill passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 275 to 146 Wednesday, with 228 Democrats and 47 Republicans voting in favor. It needed a simple majority, rather than a two-thirds vote, to pass.

Some Democrats accused President Trump of interfering with the bill due to his relationship with the Schlapp family. Mercedes Schlapp, a strategic communications director for the White House, is married to Matt Schlapp, a lobbyist for a company representing Twin River Management group

Twin River owns two casinos in Rhode Island and would be competing with a tribal casino.

Congressman Bill Keating, who represents the Cape and Islands, South Coast and South Shore, released the following statement:

"This is the Tribe of the First Thanksgiving; the very tribe that is integral to our founding story. To deny them the right to their land is an absolute disgrace. Without land, the Mashpee Wampanoag are essentially treated as a second-class tribe with no ability to properly govern its people or provide essential services such as housing and education initiatives. Other bills like this have passed the House without controversy, including one signed into law by President Trump last year. The only difference this time: the President actively tried to sink an entire tribe for overtly corrupt reasons. Today, the House said that the President’s dirty business has no place here. I am proud that this bill passed with bipartisan support, and I want to especially thank my good friends Congressmen Joe Kennedy, Tom Cole, Raul Grijalva, Paul Cook, and Ruben Gallego. These Members were committed to helping the tribe and were integral to this bill’s passage. I sincerely thank them for their support."