Catawba and other Indians fairly and I urge this committee and Congress to enact into law the Ancient Indian Land Claim Settlement Act of 1982.

Attached to the file copy of this Statement are resolutions in support of the Anicent Indian Land Claim Settlement Act of 1982; a letter from our Governor, the Honorable Richard W. Riley, in support of this legislation: and various letters indicative of the problems the Catawba Indian Land Claim has created within our community.

EXHIBITS

A. Resolution of the city of Rock Hill.
B. Resolution of Lancaster County.
C. Resolution of Catawba Indian Study Commission.
D. Concurrent resolution of South Carolina General Assembly.
E. Policy letter of Rock Hill area Chamber of Commerce.

F. Letter from the Honorable Richard W. Riley, Governor of the State of South Carolina, addressed to the Honorable Alfonse M. D'Amato and the Honorable Gary A. Lee.

G. May 3, 1979, letter from Robert A. Leak, director of South Carolina State Development Board to Clint R. Carpenter.

H. June 14, 1982, letter from Max A. Heller, chairman, South Carolina State Development Board to John C. Hayes, III.

I. June 11, 1982, letter from Ralph Norman to John C. Hayes III.
J. June 11, 1982, letter from George W. Dunlap to John C. Hayes, III.

K. June 20, 1982, letter from John A. Gill to Governor James B. Edwards with June 15, 1982, postscript.

Enclosed is a copy of a resolution, adopted by the Rock Hill, South Carolina, City Council on December 19, 1981, in support of the concept of your proposed "Ancient Indian Land Claim Settlement of 1981."

As you are aware, Rock Hill is included in an Indian land claim presently in litigation in Federal Court here in South Carolina. We believe that legislation, such as the bill you propose, will alleviate some of the problems which landowners in the area have faced because of the claim.

Therefore, we are urging our national and state representatives to support your proposed legislation. If our elected officials or staff can be of any further assistance in this matter, please call upon us.

A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT THE ENACTMENT BY CONGRESS OF
LEGISLATION MAKING ALLOWABLE INDIAN CLAIMS ASSERT.ABLE ONLY
FOR MONETARY COMPENSATION TO BE ADJUDICATED IN THE UNITED
STATES COURT OF CLAIMS AND PAYABLE BY THE UNITED STATES

GOVERNMENT

WHEREAS, the claim asserted by the Catawba Indians to approximately 144,000 acres of land in York, Lancaster, and Chester Counties, South Carolina, has impeded and disrupted economic growth, as have other Indian claims in other areas; and

WHEREAS, the suit brought by the Catawba Indians and now pending in the United States District Court for South Carolina could be lengthy and expensive for all parties, and until finally resolved, could leave a cloud upon title to the real estate in contention; and

WHEREAS, whatever the outcome of the pending suit may be, it is uathinkable and manifestly impractical for title to real estate to forfeit upon which thousands of citizens reside and enormous investments have been made by industries, utilities, and other businesses:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Rock Hill, South Carolina, in meeting duly assembled, that this Council does hereby support and eacourage the enactment by Congress of legislation making allowable Indian claims assertable only for monetary damages, to be ad judicated in the United States Court of Claims, or before a similar tribunal or Commission, and to be payable, if the clain is established, by the United States Government.

DONE AND RATIFIED on this the 21st day of December, 1981.

CERTIFICATE

I, the undersigned Municipal Clerk of the City of Rock Hill, South Carolina, hereby certify that the foregoing constitutes a full, true and correct copy of "A Resolution To Support The Enactment By Congress of Legislation Making Allowable Indian Claims Assertable Only For Monetary Compensation To Be Ad judicated In The United States Court of Claims And Payable By The United States Government", and I further certify that the above Resolution was duly and regularly adopted, and that the original thereof has been spread upon the permanent records and Miautes of Meetings of City Council of the City of Rock Hill, s. C.

Given under the hand and official seal of the undersigned Municipal Clerk on this the 21st day of December, 1981.

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

)

RESOLUTION

COUNTY OF LANCASTER

)

WHEREAS, Lancaster County is currently a Defendant in the action brought by the Catawba Indians in United States District Court, and

WHEREAS, the suit seeks possession of thousands of

acres of real property in northern Lancaster County and trespass

damages, and

WHEREAS, the pendency of the action and the costs of

litigation are burdens on the taxpayers of Lancaster County,

and

WHEREAS, the Landowners in the effected area are innocent purchasers and possessors of the property in question,

and

WHEREAS, legislation known as the Lee Bill has been

introduced in Congress which would terminate any land claims in

the effected area and would leave the plaintiffs a right to sue

for damages in the United States Court of Claims or through the

United States Secretary of the Interior, and

WHEREAS, passage of the Lee Bill would be of great

benefit to the landowners in Lancaster County involved in this

action, then

BE IT RESOLVED by Lancaster County Council that the

Lancaster County Council as governing body of Lancaster County, South Carolina, endorses the concept of the Lee Bill as a resolution of the pending land claims by the Catawba Indians

and urges the Senators and Representatives of South Carolina to vigorously support passage of the Lee Bill in both houses of

Congress to end the financial and commercial burden imposed by

the pending claims.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this

ÉXHIBIT "B"

Resolution be forwarded to Senators Thurmond and Hollings and

Representatives Holland, Campbell, Spence, Hartnett, Derrick