Trump Blocks Bill to Return Land to Florida Tribe That Fought Alligator Alcatraz

"On Thursday, Republicans in the House failed to override President Donald Trump's first two vetoes in office: a pipeline project that would bring safe drinking water to rural Colorado, and another that would return land to the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians in Florida. Their inability to block the president's move signals their commitment to the White House over their prior support for the measures."

"The Miccosukee have always considered the Florida Everglades their home. So when Republicans in Congress voted to expand the tribe's land base under the Miccosukee Reserved Area Act - legislation that would transfer 30 acres of land in the Everglades to tribal control - the Miccosukee were thrilled. After years of work, the move would have allowed the tribe to begin environmental restoration activities in the area and better protect it from climate change impacts as extreme flooding and tropical storms threaten the land."

""The measure reflected years of bipartisan work and was intended to clarify land status and support basic protections for tribal members who have lived in this area for generations," wrote Chairman Cypress in a statement last week, "before the roads and canals were built, and before Everglades National Park was created." The act was passed on December 11, but on December 30, President Donald Trump vetoed it; one of only two vetoes made by the administration since he took office."

House Republicans failed to override two of President Trump's vetoes, including one that would have returned 30 acres in the Everglades to the Miccosukee Tribe. The Miccosukee consider the Everglades their home and had sought the land transfer under the Miccosukee Reserved Area Act to begin environmental restoration and bolster protections against climate change impacts such as extreme flooding and tropical storms. The measure had bipartisan support and was passed on December 11, but President Trump vetoed it on December 30. The failed override indicates Republican alignment with the White House over prior support for the measures.

Read at Truthout