Rep. Eli Crane sponsored a bill in 2023 to grant reservation land to the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, which is the only federally recognized tribe in Arizona without its own reservation (Casa Grande Dispatch, 6/13/23).
The bill to grant land to the Paiute tribe was the first piece of legislation introduced by Eli Crane after his 2022 election (Casa Grande Dispatch, 6/13/23).
In House testimony, Crane defended the bill as a "commonsense solution" that supports tribal self-governance and respects the will of the people, urging Congress not to impede tribal autonomy (Casa Grande Dispatch, 6/13/23).
Crane's legislative actions highlight a focus on Indigenous rights and rectifying longstanding land issues for federally recognized tribes.
No explicit opposition or vulnerabilities regarding the bill were cited in the provided sources.
Eli Crane Sponsored Bill To Grant Lands To San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe In 2023 According to Casa Grande Dispatch, "Rep. Eli Crane, R-Oro Valley, who sponsored the bill, said it is the only federally recognized tribe in Arizona without its own reservation." [Casa Grande Dispatch (AZ), 6/13/23]
Eli Crane Introduced Paiute Homelands Bill As First Legislation After 2022 Election According to Casa Grande Dispatch, "Crane, a freshman, said the bill was the first piece of legislation he introduced after being elected last year." [Casa Grande Dispatch (AZ), 6/13/23]
Eli Crane Defended Tribal Self-Governance In 2023 House Testimony According to Casa Grande Dispatch, "He called it a commonsense solution that respects tribal governance and the will of the people, and said Congress should not stand in the way of self-governance." [Casa Grande Dispatch (AZ), 6/13/23]