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119-hr-2916119th CongressWALLET

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.

Sponsored By: Representative Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]

Passed House

Summary

Authorizes and implements a negotiated land settlement that would resolve the Akwesasne Mohawk land claims and allow specified transfers of land, rights-of-way, and easements under the Settlement Agreement. It would also define certain Tribe-owned parcels in the Settlement Acquisition Areas as Indian Country under federal law.

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  • Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe: The bill would ratify the Settlement Agreement and enable the Tribe to own or acquire lands in the Settlement Acquisition Areas as described in the Agreement. Those lands would be treated as Indian Country for purposes of 18 U.S.C. §1151(a).
  • State and local governments: New York, Franklin and Saint Lawrence counties, and the towns of Fort Covington and Bombay would have the Agreement federally authorized and the related claims in three named lawsuits resolved, clearing the way for authorized transfers tied to those cases.
  • Legal effect: Lands owned by the Tribe on or after the Agreement's effective date in the Settlement Acquisition Areas would be designated Indian Country under federal law, subject to the Agreement's terms and limits. This change fixes which parcels the federal Indian Country definition covers to implement the settlement.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Tribal jurisdiction for certain Akwesasne lands

If enacted, certain lands owned by the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe within the Settlement Acquisition Areas would be treated as Indian Country under federal law. This would cover land the Tribe owns on the settlement’s effective date and land it later buys in those areas. The designation would be subject to the terms and limits in the Settlement Agreement. This would affect which tribal, federal, state, or local authorities handle crimes, civil rules, taxes, and services on those parcels. If you live or own property on those parcels, your legal rules and which government has authority would change when this takes effect upon enactment.

Congress approval of Akwesasne land settlement

If enacted, Congress would authorize, ratify, and confirm the Akwesasne Mohawk land settlement. The agreement is 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. It would also authorize land, right-of-way, and easement transfers tied to lawsuits 82-CV-783, 82-CV-1114, and 89-CV-829. This would clear federal approval so the settlement’s terms can be carried out upon enactment. Most households outside the settlement areas would see little direct change.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]

NY • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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