Sinema Introduces Bill Expanding Tonto Apache Reservation with Forest Service Land

Senators Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) have introduced a bill expanding the Tonto Apache Tribe's current reservation by 3,060 acres, using land to be held in trust by the U.S. Forest Service near the city of Payson.

As Sen. Sinema describes it, "This land is culturally significant to the tribe and will enable them to build additional housing for community members to reside on the reservation."

KTAR News noted that the Tonto Apache Tribe has the smallest land base reservation in Arizona at 85 acres. Should the Tonto Apache Land Transfer Act become law, their reservation would become 36 times larger thanks to this land transfer.

"My legislation transferring culturally significant land to the Tonto Apache Tribe represents our continued work honoring and respecting Tribal sovereignty and protecting culturally significant land," Sen. Sinema said in her press release.

"Transferring this land to the Tonto Apache Tribe is about respecting their history and ensuring their community has the resources to grow and thrive. This bill will give them more control over land that holds deep cultural significance, strengthening their community and their connection to their heritage," Sen. Kelly added.

Arizona has multiple recognized Native American Tribes and Nations living within its borders, and the Grand Canyon State's Representatives in Congress have continually introduced legislation prioritizing their economic development and welfare.

In May, Representative David Schweikert (R-AZ) introduced the bipartisan Tribal Tax Investment and Reform Act, which would classify tribal areas as "difficult development areas" to boost housing project tax credit and create favorable financing for investors, thereby driving economic development.

Rep. Schweikert's bill was born out of tribal governments being frequently excluded from tax-exempt government bonds because they often fail the "essential government function" test, stymieing their economic development.

Similarly, Representatives Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) and Eli Crane (R-AZ) pushed the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement, which would improve the provision of and authorization to lease clean water to the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe in northeastern Arizona. The latter would also be given a reservation they currently lack.