    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 134, 116th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Public Law 116-255
    116th Congress

    An Act

    To provide for the transfer of certain Federal land in the State of
    Minnesota for the benefit of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. <>

    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 ``Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Reservation
    Restoration Act''.
    SEC. 2. LEECH LAKE BAND OF OJIBWE RESERVATION RESTORATION.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
    (1) the Federal land described in subsection (b)(1) was
    taken from members of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe during a
    period--
    (A) beginning in 1948;
    (B) during which the Bureau of Indian Affairs
    incorrectly interpreted an order of the Secretary of the
    Interior to mean that the Department of the Interior had
    the authority to sell tribal allotments without the
    consent of a majority of the rightful landowners; and
    (C) ending in 1959, when the Secretary of the
    Interior was--
    (i) advised that sales described in
    subparagraph (B) were illegal; and
    (ii) ordered to cease conducting those sales;
    (2) as a result of the Federal land described in subsection
    (b)(1) being taken from members of the Leech Lake Band of
    Ojibwe, the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe hold the smallest
    percentage of its original reservation lands of any Ojibwe bands
    in Minnesota;
    (3)(A) the applicable statute of limitations prohibits
    individuals from pursuing through litigation the return of the
    land taken as described in paragraph (1); but
    (B) a Federal judge ruled that the land could be restored to
    the affected individuals through the legislative process;
    (4) a comprehensive review of the Federal land demonstrated
    that--
    (A) a portion of the Federal land is encumbered by--
    (i) utility easements;
    (ii) rights-of-way for roads; and
    (iii) flowage and reservoir rights; and
    (B) there are no known cabins, campgrounds, lodges,
    or resorts located on any portion of the Federal land;
    and

    [[Page 1140]]

    (5) on reacquisition by the Tribe of the Federal land, the
    Tribe--
    (A) has pledged to respect the easements, rights-of-
    way, and other rights described in paragraph (4)(A); and
    (B)(i) does not intend immediately to modify the use
    of the Federal land; but
    (ii) will keep the Federal land in tax-exempt fee
    status as part of the Chippewa National Forest until the
    Tribe develops a plan that allows for a gradual
    subdivision of some tracts for economic and residential
    development by the Tribe.

    (b) Definitions.--In this section:
    (1) Federal land.--
    (A) In general.--The term ``Federal land'' means the
    approximately 11,760 acres of Federal land located in
    the Chippewa National Forest in Cass County, Minnesota,
    the boundaries of which shall be depicted on the map,
    and described in the legal description, submitted under
    subsection (d)(1)(B).
    (B) Inclusions.--The term ``Federal land''
    includes--
    (i) any improvement located on the Federal
    land described in subparagraph (A); and
    (ii) any appurtenance to the Federal land.
    (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
    of Agriculture.
    (3) Tribe.--The term ``Tribe'' means the Leech Lake Band of
    Ojibwe.

    (c) Transfer to Reservation.--
    (1) In general.--Subject to valid existing rights and
    paragraph (2), the Secretary shall transfer to the
    administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior all
    right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the
    Federal land.
    (2) <>  Treatment.--Effective
    immediately on the transfer under paragraph (1), the Federal
    land shall be--
    (A) held in trust by the United States for the
    benefit of the Tribe; and
    (B) considered to be a part of the reservation of
    the Tribe.

    (d) Survey, Map, and Legal Description.--
    (1) In general.--The Secretary shall--
    (A) <>  not later than 180 days
    after the date of enactment of this Act, complete a plan
    of survey to establish the boundaries of the Federal
    land; and
    (B) as soon as practicable after the date of
    enactment of this Act, submit a map and legal
    description of the Federal land to--
    (i) the Committee on Natural Resources of the
    House of Representatives; and
    (ii) the Committee on Indian Affairs of the
    Senate.
    (2) Force and effect.--The map and legal description
    submitted under paragraph (1)(B) shall have the same force and
    effect as if included in this Act, except that the Secretary may
    correct any clerical or typographical error in the map or legal
    description.
    (3) Public availability.--The map and legal description
    submitted under paragraph (1)(B) shall be on file and available
    for public inspection in the office of the Secretary.

    [[Page 1141]]

    (e) Administration.--
    (1) In general.--Except as otherwise expressly provided in
    this section, nothing in this section affects any right or claim
    of the Tribe, as in existence on the date of enactment of this
    Act, to any land or interest in land.
    (2) Prohibitions.--
    (A) <>  Exports of unprocessed
    logs.--Federal law (including regulations) relating to
    the export of unprocessed logs harvested from Federal
    land shall apply to any unprocessed logs that are
    harvested from the Federal land.
    (B) Non-permissible use of land.--The Federal land
    shall not be eligible or used for any gaming activity
    carried out under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25
    U.S.C. 2701 et seq.).
    (3) Forest management.--Any commercial forestry activity
    carried out on the Federal land shall be managed in accordance
    with applicable Federal law.

    Approved December 23, 2020.

    LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 199 (H.R. 733):
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    HOUSE REPORTS: No. 116-665 (Comm. on Natural Resources) accompanying
    H.R. 733.
    SENATE REPORTS: No. 116-3 (Comm. on Indian Affairs).
    CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
    Vol. 165 (2019):
    June 27, considered and passed
    Senate.
    Vol. 166 (2020):
    Dec. 3, considered and passed House.