# 119-hr-226: Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act

119-hr-226, Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3] (R-TN); status passed_house (as of 2026-09-25).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-226
- As of: 2026-09-25
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-226
- Congress: 119
- Title: Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act
- Status: passed_house
- Introduced: 2025-01-07
- Sponsor: Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3] (R-TN)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Native Americans
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-25

## Summary

**Transfers about 76 acres of Tennessee Valley Authority land into trust for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to preserve and interpret Cherokee historic sites.** It sets use limits, preserves TVA reservoir management, and bans certain gaming on the lands. - Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians would receive three parcels totaling about 76.1 acres, including the Sequoyah Museum site, a support parcel, and the Chota and Tanasi memorial properties. Existing improvements and appurtenances on those lands remain tribal property. - Tennessee Valley Authority would retain authority to manage Tellico Reservoir, including drawdowns and level fluctuations, and TVA remains responsible for environmental remediation and hazardous substance assessments before transfer. TVA may be compensated for lost hydropower capacity under its guidelines if applicable. - Third-party rights-of-way and easements for roads, utilities, or similar purposes remain subject to recorded rights. The bill prohibits Class II and III gaming on the trust lands and allows limited, TVA-approved nonhabitable water-use structures in defined elevation bands adjacent to the reservoir.

## Provisions PRIA read

- How the trust lands could be used: benefit, low. The bill would require most trust lands to be used mainly for memorials, culture, museums, and recreation. It would support the Sequoyah birthplace museum and memorials to Chota and Tanasi, and allow reburial of Cherokee remains and cultural items. It would allow interpretation of the Trail of Tear…
- Put Cherokee historic lands in trust: benefit, low. If enacted, the U.S. would hold certain TVA lands in Monroe County, TN, in trust for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The trust parcels are about 46.0 acres (Sequoyah Museum Parcels 1 and 2), 11.9 acres (Support Parcel), and 18.2 acres (Chota and Tanasi), on or above 820 feet (MSL). The Chota…
- TVA must handle any cleanup: benefit, low. If enacted, TVA would keep sole federal responsibility and liability to fund and carry out any required environmental cleanup on these lands. Before trust transfer, TVA would have to assess and state if hazardous substances were stored for a year or more, released, or disposed. TVA would need to li…
- No gambling on these trust lands: cost, low. The bill would prohibit Class II and Class III gaming on the lands covered by this Act. That means no bingo‑style or casino‑style gaming operations on these specific trust lands.
- TVA keeps flood control and access rights: cost, low. This bill would confirm TVA’s right to raise and lower Tellico Reservoir. TVA could permanently flood lands below 815 feet (MSL) and could temporarily flood lands and roads below 824 feet. The United States would not be liable for damage from wave action, water‑level changes, or such flooding. The…
- Limited water facilities with TVA conditions: mixed, low. The Tribe would be able to build and run certain water‑use facilities and some non‑habitable structures on lands between 815 and 820 feet (MSL), and in adjacent waters. This would require written TVA consent and would follow TVA’s approval terms. Other structures on those lands would be barred. Als…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-3816: Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025
- 119-hr-5089: Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025
- 119-hr-4553: Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026
- 119-hr-2725: Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025
- 119-hr-2570: Maximum Pressure Act
- 119-hr-4317: PBM Reform Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-226 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/226)

## Related
- [119-hr-3816: Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3816)
- [119-hr-5089: Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5089)
- [119-hr-4553: Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4553)
- [119-hr-2725: Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2725)
- [119-hr-2570: Maximum Pressure Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2570)
- [119-hr-4317: PBM Reform Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4317)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-226 (as of 2026-09-25).