MIKE THOMPSON ~B® sonata COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS net ncn: SC pase “ems CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES ames PERMANENT SELECT HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES wena COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE WASHINGTON, DC 20515 ‘ena Ngan iniaece ANALISS A Soci ‘cousin Suncor tice Connery April 29, 2010 Mivacthen ‘The Honorable Nick J. Rahall II Chairman Committee on House Resources Office of Indian Affairs 1324 Longworth Building Washington, DC 20515, Disenrollment of tribal members is an issue among tribes in my district and throughout California, as well in as other parts of the United States. In some cases, members are Voted out of tribes for bona fide reasons such as their lack of relative bloodline and/or failure to meet membership or residency requirements in accordance with tribal constitutions. However, in other cases, there appears to be arbitrary removal of entire families for obscure reasons. Dear Congres: When the Indian Civil Rights Act was passed by Congress in 1968 there was no mechanism for enforcement other than by the same body that allegedly caused the infringement. Ifa tribal member feels his or her civil rights have been abused, and there is no tribal court in place, he or she has no impartial legal recourse On behalf of the growing number of disenrolled Native Americans, I believe this issue merits a congressional oversight hearing be convened to review enforcement of the Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968. Thank you in advanee for your prompt attention and response to this matter, Sifcerely, ~ A, MIKE THOMPSON Member of Congress va ham opm ie ddan —_ bhp tm Chie roller oon