[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 214 (Thursday, December 18, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1225]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





 RECOGNIZING THE PASSAGE OF THE WOUNDED KNEE SACRED SITE AND MEMORIAL 
                                  ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DUSTY JOHNSON

                            of south dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 18, 2025

  Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
and commend the unanimous passage of the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial 
and Sacred Site Act in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. 
Senate.
  This legislation represents an important step toward preserving one 
of the most tragic and painful sites in our Nation's history, as we 
prepare to commemorate the 135th anniversary of the Wounded Knee 
Massacre on December 29, 1890. The land at Wounded Knee bears witness 
to the massacre of hundreds of Lakota men, women, and children on 
December 29, 1890. For generations, this ground has held deep spiritual 
and historical significance for the Lakota people, and it deserves to 
be protected and honored accordingly.
  In 2023, I had the opportunity to visit the site of the Wounded Knee 
Massacre, where I met with descendants of survivors and saw firsthand 
the remnants of that tragic day, including the bloodstained floorboards 
of St. John's Church where the wounded were treated. That experience 
underscores the responsibility we share as a Nation to acknowledge our 
past wrongdoings and ensure that such a tragedy is never forgotten.
  This bill was developed in close partnership with the Oglala Sioux 
Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, whose leadership and guidance 
were essential in shaping legislation that respects tribal jurisdiction 
and the sacred nature of the land. I am grateful to President Frank 
Star Comes Out of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Chairman Ryman LeBeau of 
the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe for their continued collaboration and 
advocacy to preserve the memory and legacy of their ancestors.
  Mr. Speaker, on the 100th anniversary of the massacre, Congress 
issued a formal apology, expressing deep regret for the actions of the 
federal government and acknowledging the historical significance of 
this event. As descendants prepare to remember the lives lost on the 
135th anniversary, the House and Senate have reaffirmed our commitment 
to reconciliation and remembrance by passing the Wounded Knee Massacre 
Memorial and Sacred Site Act unanimously, and I was honored to lead 
this legislation that preserves the sacred ground and respects the 
legacy of the Lakota people.

                          ____________________