PETITION IN OPPOSITION TO THE REPEAL OF THE CHAFEE AMENDMENT TO
THE RHODE ISLAND INDIAN CLAIMS SETTLEMENT ACT
ADDRESSED TO THE MEMBERS OF THE RHODE ISLAND DELEGATION
TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES

Honorable Jack Reed, United States Senator
Honorable Sheldon Whitehouse, United States Senator
Honorable Patrick J. Kennedy, United States Representative
Honorable James Langevin, United States Representative

WHEREAS, the voters of the State of Rhode Island, on November 7, 2006 for the second time within the past fifteen (15) years, overwhelmingly opposed the establishment of a casino gambling enterprise in Rhode Island, and in the last election defeated a proposition to amend the Constitution of the State of Rhode Island, which, if passed, would have permitted the operation of a casino in the state by the designee of the Narragansett Indian Tribe; and

WHEREAS, following the defeat of the proposed amendment to the Constitution, the Chief Sachem of the Narragansett Indian Tribe, located near the Town of Charlestown, Rhode Island, announced his intention to seek the repeal of the Chafee Amendment to the Rhode Island Indian Claims Settlement Act (RIICSA), which barred the Narragansett Indian Tribe from gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) on Settlement Lands; and

WHEREAS, as the result of the extensive litigation regarding the RIICSA, the federal courts have found that the “civil and criminal laws and jurisdiction of the State of Rhode Island, shall apply on Settlement Lands; and

WHEREAS, the Constitution of the State of Rhode Island does not allow any entity, other than the State, to operate gambling within the State.

NOW, THEREFORE, We the below listed petitioners call upon the duly elected representatives of the State of Rhode Island to the Congress of the United States to refuse the entreaties of the Narragansett Indian Tribe to repeal the Chafee Amendment, and call upon these representatives to oppose this repeal to the full extent permitted by their office.