This testimony is submitted on behalf of the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) which is the unified voice on behalf of all 58 California counties. For perspective on CSAC's activities and approach to Indian Affairs matters, we are attaching the CSAC Congressional Position Paper on Indian Affairs issued in March, 2009. Our intent in this testimony to provide a perspective from California’s counties regarding the significance of the Supreme Court's recent decision in Carcieri v. Salazar, and to recommend measures for the Committee to consider as it seeks to address the implications of this decision in legislation. CSAC believes that the experience of our county government members in the State of California is similar to that of county and local governments throughout the nation where trust land issues have created significant and, in many cases, unnecessary conflict and distrust of the federal decision system for trust lands.