[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4853 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4853

 To provide that land which is owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida 
 but which is not held in trust by the United States for the Tribe may 
   be mortgaged, leased, or transferred by the Tribe without further 
                     approval by the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 23, 2002

  Mr. Wexler (for himself, Mr. Deutsch, and Mr. Foley) introduced the 
    following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To provide that land which is owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida 
 but which is not held in trust by the United States for the Tribe may 
   be mortgaged, leased, or transferred by the Tribe without further 
                     approval by the United States.

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

SECTION 1. APPROVAL NOT REQUIRED TO VALIDATE LAND TRANSACTIONS.

    (a) In General.--The Seminole Tribe of Florida may mortgage, lease, 
sell, convey, warrant, or otherwise transfer all or any part of the 
Tribe's interest in any real property that is not held in trust by the 
United States for the benefit of the Tribe. Such transactions shall be 
valid without further approval, ratification, or authorization by the 
United States.
    (b) Trust Land Not Affected.--Nothing in this section is intended 
or shall be construed to--
            (1) authorize the Seminole Tribe of Florida to mortgage, 
        lease, sell, convey, warrant, or otherwise transfer all or any 
        part of an interest in any real property that is held in trust 
        by the United States for the benefit of the Tribe; or
            (2) affect the operation of any law governing mortgaging, 
        leasing, selling, conveying, warranting, or otherwise 
        transferring any interest in such trust land.
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