116 HR 297 IH: Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians Restoration Act of 2019 U.S. House of Representatives 2019-01-08 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
I116th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 297IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJanuary 8, 2019Mr. Gianforte introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural ResourcesA BILLTo extend the Federal recognition to the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians Restoration Act of 2019.
2.
Definitions
In this Act: (1)
Member
The term member means an individual who is enrolled in the Tribe pursuant to section 6. (2)
Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior. (3)
Tribe
The term Tribe means the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana.
3.
Federal recognition
(a)
In general
Federal recognition is extended to the Tribe. (b)
Effect of federal laws
Except as otherwise provided in this Act, all Federal laws (including regulations) of general application to Indians and Indian tribes, including the Act of June 18, 1934 (25 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.) (commonly known as the Indian Reorganization Act), shall apply to the Tribe and members.
4.
Federal services and benefits
(a)
In general
Beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Tribe and each member shall be eligible for all services and benefits provided by the United States to Indians and federally recognized Indian tribes, without regard to— (1)the existence of a reservation for the Tribe; or (2)the location of the residence of any member on or near an Indian reservation. (b)
Service area
For purposes of the delivery of services and benefits to members, the service area of the Tribe shall be considered to be the area comprised of Blaine, Cascade, Glacier, and Hill Counties in the State of Montana.
5.
Reaffirmation of rights
(a)
In general
Nothing in this Act diminishes any right or privilege of the Tribe or any member that existed before the date of enactment of this Act. (b)
Claims of tribe
Except as otherwise provided in this Act, nothing in this Act alters or affects any legal or equitable claim of the Tribe to enforce any right or privilege reserved by, or granted to, the Tribe that was wrongfully denied to, or taken from, the Tribe before the date of enactment of this Act.
6.
Membership roll
(a)
In general
As a condition of receiving recognition, services, and benefits pursuant to this Act, the Tribe shall submit to the Secretary, by not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, a membership roll consisting of the name of each individual enrolled as a member of the Tribe. (b)
Determination of membership
The qualifications for inclusion on the membership roll of the Tribe shall be determined in accordance with sections 1 through 3 of article 5 of the constitution of the Tribe dated September 10, 1977 (including amendments to the constitution). (c)
Maintenance of roll
The Tribe shall maintain the membership roll under this section.
7.
Transfer of land
(a)
Homeland
The Secretary shall acquire, for the benefit of the Tribe, trust title to 200 acres of land within the service area of the Tribe to be used for a tribal land base. (b)
Additional land
The Secretary may acquire additional land for the benefit of the Tribe pursuant to section 5 of the Act of June 18, 1934 (25 U.S.C. 5108) (commonly known as the Indian Reorganization Act).