[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2793 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2793

To provide for and approve the settlement of certain land claims of the 
              Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 18, 2003

 Mr. Dingell introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                         Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To provide for and approve the settlement of certain land claims of the 
              Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.

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

SECTION 1. ACCEPTANCE OF ALTERNATIVE LANDS AND EXTINGUISHMENT OF 
              CLAIMS.

    (a) Definitions.--For the purposes of this Act, the following 
definitions apply:
            (1) Alternative lands.--The term ``alternative lands'' 
        means those lands located in Otsego County, Michigan, and the 
        city of Romulus, Michigan, and identified as alternative lands 
        in the Settlement of Land Claim.
            (2) Charlotte beach lands.--The term ``Charlotte Beach 
        lands'' means those lands in the Charlotte Beach area of 
        Michigan and described as follows: Government Lots 1, 2, 3, and 
        4 of Section 7, T45N, R2E, and Lot 1 of Section 18, T45N, R2E, 
        Chippewa County, State of Michigan
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
            (4) Settlement of land claim.--The term ``Settlement of 
        Land Claim'' means the agreement between the Tribe and the 
        Governor of the State of Michigan executed on December 30, 
        2002, and filed with the Office of Secretary of State of the 
        State of Michigan.
            (5) Tribe.--The term ``Tribe'' means the Sault Ste. Marie 
        Tribe of Chippewa Indians, a federally recognized Indian tribe.
    (b) Land Into Trust; Part of Reservation.--
            (1) Land into trust.--The Secretary shall take the 
        alternative lands into trust for the benefit of the Tribe 
        within 30 days of receiving a title insurance policy for the 
        alternative lands which shows that the alternative lands are 
        not subject to mortgages, liens, deeds of trust, options to 
        purchase, or other security interests.
            (2) Part of reservation.--The alternative lands shall 
        become part of the Tribe's reservation immediately upon 
        attaining trust status.
    (c) Gaming.--The alternative lands shall be taken into trust as 
provided in this section as part of the settlement and extinguishment 
of the Tribe's Charlotte Beach land claims, and so shall be deemed 
lands obtained in settlement of a land claim within the meaning of 
section 20(b)(1)(B)(i) of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 
2719(b)(1)(B)(i)).
    (d) Extinguishment of Claims.--Upon the date of enactment of this 
Act, any and all claims by the Tribe to the Charlotte Beach lands or 
against the United States, the State of Michigan or any subdivision 
thereof, the Governor of the State of Michigan, or any other person or 
entity by the Tribe based on or relating to claims to the Charlotte 
Beach lands (including without limitation, claims for trespass damages, 
use, or occupancy), whether based on aboriginal or recognized title, 
are hereby extinguished. The extinguishment of these claims is in 
consideration for the benefits to the Tribe under this Act.
    (e) Effectuation and Ratification of Agreement.--
            (1) Ratification.--The United States approves and ratifies 
        the Settlement of Land Claim.
            (2) Not precedent.--The provisions contained in the 
        Settlement of Land Claim are unique and shall not be considered 
        precedent for any future agreement between any Indian tribe and 
        State.
            (3) Enforcement.--The Settlement of Land Claim shall be 
        enforceable by either the Tribe or the Governor according to 
        its terms. Exclusive jurisdiction over any enforcement action 
        is vested in the United States District Court for the Eastern 
        District of Michigan.
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