House passes resolution regretting Chinese discrimination in the 1800s

By Pete Kasperowicz - 06/18/12 05:17 PM ET

The House on Monday evening approved a resolution expressing regret for the policies passed in the late 1800s that discriminated against Chinese immigrants, as well as several bills related to federal land use.

The following bills were approved by voice vote after very brief debate:

• H.Res. 683, expressing the regret of the House of Representatives for the passage of laws that adversely affected the Chinese in the United States, including the Chinese Exclusion Act,

• H.R. 1556, to amend the Omnibus Indian Advancement Act to allow certain land to be used to generate income to provide funding for academic programs,

• H.R. 4027, to clarify authority granted under a measure titled 'An Act to define the exterior boundary of the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation in the State of Utah,'

• S. 997, the East Bench Irrigation District Water Contract Extension Act, and,

• H.R. 3668, the Counterfeit Drug Penalty Enhancement Act of 2012.

The House approved the following bills by recorded vote later in the day:

• S. 404, to modify a land grant patent issued by the secretary of the Interior, passed 383-3.

• S. 684, to provide for the conveyance of certain parcels of land to the town of Alta, Utah. Passed 380-0.

Later in the evening, the House approved H.R. 1272, the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Judgment Fund Distribution Act, by voice vote.

But after several minutes of debate the House delayed a vote on H.R. 2938, the Gila Bend Indian Reservation Lands Replacement Clarification Act. This bill would limit the ability of an Indian tribe in Arizona to build a casino, an issue that split Republicans during debate.

— This story was updated at 7:04 p.m. to reflect the late votes, and again at 7:44 p.m.