[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 207 (Tuesday, December 9, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H5085-H5086]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RESOLVING THE AKWESASNE MOHAWK LAND CLAIM IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK

  Mr. CRANK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 2916) to authorize, ratify, and confirm the Agreement of 
Settlement and Compromise to Resolve the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim in 
the State of New York, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2916

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

     SECTION 1. AGREEMENT AND TRANSFERS AUTHORIZED, RATIFIED AND 
                   CONFIRMED.

        The following are hereby authorized, ratified, and 
     confirmed:
       (1) The Agreement of Settlement and Compromise to Resolve 
     the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim in the State of New York 
     (hereafter in this Act referred to as the ``Settlement 
     Agreement''), entered into by the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, 
     the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, the State of New York, the 
     Counties of Franklin and Saint Lawrence, New York, the Towns 
     of Fort Covington and Bombay, New York, and the New York 
     Power Authority.
       (2) Any transfer of land, right-of-way, or easement that is 
     the subject of the claims in the Canadian Saint Regis Band of 
     Mohawk Indians v. New York et al. (82-CV-783); the Canadian 
     Saint Regis Band of Mohawk Indians v. New York et al. (82-CV-
     1114); and the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, by the Saint Regis 
     Mohawk Tribal Council and the People of the Longhouse at 
     Akwesasne, by Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs v. The State of 
     New York, et al. (89-CV-829).

     SEC. 2. LANDS OWNED BY SAINT REGIS MOHAWK TRIBE WITHIN 
                   SETTLEMENT ACQUISITION AREAS.

       The following shall be Indian Country as defined in section 
     1151(a) of title 18, United States Code, subject to the 
     terms, conditions, and limitations of the Settlement 
     Agreement:
       (1) Land owned on the effective date of the Settlement 
     Agreement by the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe within the 
     Settlement Acquisition Areas, as defined in the Settlement 
     Agreement.
       (2) Land acquired by the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe within 
     the Settlement Acquisition Areas after the effective date of 
     the Settlement Agreement.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from

[[Page H5086]]

Colorado (Mr. Crank) and the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Randall) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CRANK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on H.R. 2916, the bill now under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Colorado?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CRANK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2916, to authorize, ratify, 
and confirm the Agreement of Settlement and Compromise to resolve the 
Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim in the State of New York, introduced by the 
gentlewoman from New York, Congresswoman Stefanik.
  The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe is located on the border of New York and 
Canada along the St. Lawrence River. Following the Revolutionary War, 
the Seven Nations of Canada and the State of New York signed the 1796 
Treaty, which gave the Tribe its reservation.
  In 1824 and 1825, New York acquired land from the Tribe without the 
Federal Government's approval, violating the Non-Intercourse Act, which 
reserves to the United States the exclusive right to acquire Indian 
lands and prohibits conveyance without Federal approval.
  After decades of court proceedings, a 2022 Northern District of New 
York ruling determined that the State of New York's 1825 purchase of 
land violated the Non-Intercourse Act. Mediation between the parties 
resumed and culminated in a settlement signed earlier this year.
  The settlement would return approximately 3,500 acres of land to 
reservation status and would allow the Tribe to acquire up to 14,000 
additional acres from willing sellers. Additional provisions in the 
settlement include waived tuition and mandatory fees for Akwesasne 
Mohawk students attending State University of New York institutions and 
preferred-rate power from the New York Power Authority.
  The settlement requires no Federal monetary contribution and clearly 
defines the reservation's boundaries.
  Negotiated settlements related to Indian land claims under the Non-
Intercourse Act require congressional approval, and that is why we are 
here today.
  H.R. 2916 would authorize, ratify, and confirm the Akwesasne Mohawk 
Land Claim Settlement Agreement and bring final resolution to a 
longstanding claim.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bill, and I reserve the balance 
of my time.
  Ms. RANDALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2916 would finalize a longstanding land claim in 
New York for the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe by ratifying and confirming 
the Agreement of Settlement and Compromise to resolve the Akwesasne 
Mohawk Land Claim in the State of New York.
  Under this settlement, the Tribe will see 3,500 acres of land 
returned to reservation status and have the opportunity to acquire up 
to 14,000 acres of land in the land claim areas.
  The settlement also provides Akwesasne Mohawk students who attend 
State University of New York institutions free tuition and mandatory 
fees.
  In addition, the Tribe will have the right to nine megawatts of power 
at a preferred rate from the New York Power Authority and will receive 
$70 million from the power authority over 35 years.
  This legislation will finally resolve the Akwesasne Land Claim after 
43 years of litigation and 11 years of negotiation.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CRANK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New 
York (Ms. Stefanik), the lead sponsor of this bill.
  Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Representative 
Crank, for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2916, my bill to ratify the 
land claim settlement agreement between the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, 
the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, New York State, Franklin and St. 
Lawrence Counties, the towns of Fort Covington and Bombay, and the New 
York Power Authority.
  For more than 40 years, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe and the Mohawk 
Council of Akwesasne have worked diligently to resolve the Akwesasne 
land claim in northern New York in my district. The last decade has 
seen very focused efforts between the Tribe, local, and county 
officials, and our congressional office to realize this long-sought 
agreement dating back to the 1796 Treaty with the Seven Nations of 
Canada.

  This historic settlement provides long-term certainty and remedies in 
terms of lands, land acquisition, payment of past property taxes, and 
will greatly benefit our North Country community.
  For the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, today's action represents the 
resolution of a generations-long fight, and finalizing this settlement 
allows the Tribe to restore portions of their homeland, strengthen 
self-governance, and expand economic opportunities for the North 
Country.
  Unfortunately, I was dismayed to watch the agreement sit on the 
Governor's desk for over 6 months while she refused to review the 
documents and then pushed last-minute changes, leaving members of the 
Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe and the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, who 
worked alongside my office on this legislation, in limbo and long 
awaiting the culmination of over 40 years of their leadership's hard 
work.
  Our office worked swiftly and diligently to pass this out of 
committee, and I am proud to have gotten this across the finish line in 
the House. I look forward to getting this legislation passed in the 
Senate and on to the President's desk for his signing.
  Mr. Speaker, this moment is the culmination of the dedicated work by 
many past and present Mohawk leadership, elders, and community members 
from Akwesasne, as well as county and local officials, and I am honored 
to pass this bill in Congress.
  Ms. RANDALL. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this policy, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CRANK. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2916 gives the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe 
clarity on their reservation land and resolves a centuries-old 
violation of the Non-Intercourse Act. This settlement is long overdue 
and widely agreed upon. It is up to Congress to take the final steps 
and authorize the settlement.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of this bill, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Crank) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2916.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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