SANTA YNEZ VALLEY, Calif. – A controversial bill that would allow the Chumash Indian Tribe to transfer hundreds of acres of land in the Santa Ynez Valley into tribal sovereignty has cleared a major hurdle in Congress.
The Congressional House Committee on Natural Resources has voted 29-1 in favor of HR 1157, with local Congresswoman Lois Capps casting the only no vote, on the bill that would allow the transfer of the so-called “Camp 4” property in the Santa Ynez Valley into trust for the Chumash Tribe.