Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. GIMENEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 504, the Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act. This bipartisan legislation ensures that the Miccosukee Tribe has the legal authority to manage, protect, and preserve their land and continue their traditional way of life.

Specifically, the bill amends the Miccosukee Reserved Area Act to include the Osceola Camp, an inhabited Tribal village located within the heart of Florida's Everglades. The Osceola Camp is not only home to Tribal members, but it is also a site of historical and cultural importance.

Including this land in the reserved area will empower the Tribe to protect their community, manage water flow into the Everglades National Park, and raise structures within the camp to prevent catastrophic flooding. The Everglades is the largest subtropical wilderness in the continental United States and one of the most unique ecosystems on the planet.

For generations, the Miccosukee Tribe has served as a responsible steward of the fragile environment. Their leadership in conservation, water management, and environmental protection has helped preserve the natural beauty, the biodiversity, and the cultural heritage of south Florida.

This bill is about fairness and conservation. It ensures the Miccosukee Tribe has the autonomy to protect their home, their land, and their way of life.

I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Soto) for cosponsoring this measure. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 504.

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