[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2314 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2314

To restore Federal Indian services to members of the Kickapoo Tribe of 
 Oklahoma residing in Maverick County, Texas, to clarify United States 
   citizenship status of such members, to provide trust land for the 
             benefit of the Tribe, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 30, 1997

 Mr. Watkins introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
    Committee on Resources, and in addition to the Committee on the 
 Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, 
 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the 
                jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To restore Federal Indian services to members of the Kickapoo Tribe of 
 Oklahoma residing in Maverick County, Texas, to clarify United States 
   citizenship status of such members, to provide trust land for the 
             benefit of the Tribe, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma Federal 
Indian Services Restoration Act of 1997''.

SEC. 2. RESTORATION OF FEDERAL INDIAN SERVICES.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
members of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma residing in Texas shall be 
eligible for all Federal services and benefits furnished to members of 
federally-recognized tribes without regard to the existence of a 
reservation for the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma in Maverick County, 
Texas. In the case of Federal services available to members of 
federally-recognized tribes residing on or near a reservation, the 
members of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma residing in Texas shall be 
deemed to be residing on or near a reservation.
    (b) Cooperation With the Mexican Government.--In providing services 
pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary of the Interior (referred to 
hereafter in this Act as the ``Secretary'') and the head of each 
department and agency shall consult and cooperate with appropriate 
officials or agencies of the Mexican Government to the greatest extent 
possible to ensure that such services meet the special tricultural 
needs of the members of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma residing in 
Texas. Such consultation and cooperation may include joint funding 
agreements between such agency or department of the United States and 
the appropriate agencies and officials of the Mexican Government.

SEC. 3. CLARIFICATION OF UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP.

    (a) Applications for Citizenship Granted.--For a period of 3 years 
beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, any member of the 
Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma residing in Texas may apply for United 
States citizenship. Such application shall be made to the Immigration 
and Naturalization Service and, upon receipt of the application, 
citizenship promptly shall be granted to the applicant.
    (b) Pass and Repass of Boarders.--Notwithstanding the Immigration 
and Nationality Act, all members of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma 
shall be entitled to pass and repass freely the borders of the United 
States and to live and work in the United States.

SEC. 4. LAND ACQUISITION.

    (a) 45 Acres.--Pursuant to section 5 of the Act of June 18, 1934 
(25 U.S.C. 465), the Secretary shall accept at least 45 acres of land 
held in fee by the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma in Maverick County, 
Texas, to be held in trust for the benefit of the Kickapoo Tribe of 
Oklahoma.
    (b) Additional Land.--Pursuant to land acquisition authority under 
the Act of June 18, 1934 (25 U.S.C. 461 et seq.), the Secretary shall 
accept in trust for the benefit of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma any 
additional land in Maverick County, Texas, acquired by the Kickapoo 
Tribe of Oklahoma.
    (c) No Limitation of Authority.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed as limiting the authority of the Secretary under section 5 of 
the Act of June 18, 1934 (48 Stat. 985).
                                 <all>