Larson, Blumenthal, Murphy, Courtney Statement on Department of Interior Decision on Tribal-State Agreement

Congressmen John Larson (CT-1) and Joe Courtney (CT-2) and U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) issued the following statement regarding the decision by the Department of Interior to allow the Tribal-State agreement amendments between the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot Tribes and the State of Connecticut to go into effect:

"The Department of the Interior has made effective the Tribal-State agreement amendments which it was obligated to do months ago. We are hopeful that this development allows the project to now move forward in the interest of tribes and the state. As the Inspector General continues its investigation, that timing will no doubt become a new focus," Blumenthal, Murphy, Larson and Courtney said.

Blumenthal, Murphy, Larson and Courtney sought an investigation by the OIG into Interior's highly unusual decision to take no action regarding proposed amendments to the Tribal-State agreements between the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot Tribes and the State of Connecticut. That investigation is ongoing.