Last week, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, D-Fla., saw their bill, which will “allow the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s investment fund to purchase, lease, and sell commercial real estate properties to create generational wealth for the tribe and its members,” pick up steam on Capitol Hill.
Rubio, who introduced the bill in March, saw the U.S. Senate pass the bill without opposition. U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., co-sponsored the bill.
“Removing this paternalist, decades-old restriction on the Seminole Tribe is long overdue,” Rubio said. “I hope the House will quickly pass this bill to provide the autonomy and flexibility the Tribe needs and deserves as it works to secure a strong future for their members.”
Things look good on the other side of Capitol Hill as Soto steered the bill through the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee without opposition. U.S. Reps. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., Ted Deutch, D-Fla., Brian Mast, R-Fla., and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., co-sponsored the bill. Before his death in April, U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., also was co-sponsoring the bill.
“This bill is necessary in order to create additional economic opportunities for the Seminole Tribe of Florida and its members,” said Seminole Tribe Chairman Marcellus Osceola. “Senator Rubio’s leadership in moving the bill through the Senate is invaluable in our efforts to diversify and provide for future generations of Seminole tribal members.”
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.
