II 

Calendar No. 31 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 277 

[Report No. 118–2] 

To take certain land located in San Diego County, California, into trust 

for the benefit of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 7, 2023 

Mr. PADILLA introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Indian Affairs 

MARCH 21, 2023 

Reported by Mr. SCHATZ, without amendment 

A BILL 

To take certain land located in San Diego County, California, 

into trust for the benefit of the Pala Band of Mission 

Indians, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Pala Band of Mission 

5 Indians Land Transfer Act of 2023’’. 


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•S 277 RS

1 SEC. 2. TRANSFER OF LAND INTO TRUST FOR THE PALA 

2 BAND OF MISSION INDIANS. 

3 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

4 (1) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

5 the Secretary of the Interior. 

6 (2) TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Tribe’’ means the Pala 

7 Band of Mission Indians. 

8 (b) TRANSFER AND ADMINISTRATION.— 

9 (1) TRANSFER OF LAND INTO TRUST.—If, not 

10 later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 

11 this Act, the Tribe transfers title to the land re12 ferred to in subsection (c) to the United States, the 

13 Secretary, not later than 180 days after the date of 

14 that transfer, shall take that land into trust for the 

15 benefit of the Tribe. 

16 (2) ADMINISTRATION.—The land taken into 

17 trust under paragraph (1) shall be part of the Pala 

18 Indian Reservation and administered in accordance 

19 with the laws and regulations generally applicable to 

20 land held in trust by the United States for an Indian 

21 Tribe. 

22 (c) LAND DESCRIPTION.—The land referred to in 

23 subsection (b)(1) is the approximately 721.12 acres of 

24 land located in San Diego County, California, generally 

25 depicted as ‘‘Gregory Canyon Property Boundary’’ on the 


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•S 277 RS

1 map entitled ‘‘Pala Gregory Canyon Property Boundary 

2 and Parcels’’ and dated May 12, 2020. 

3 (d) RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec4 tion— 

5 (1) enlarges, impairs, or otherwise affects any 

6 right or claim of the Tribe to any land or interest 

7 in land that is in existence before the date of enact8 ment of this Act; 

9 (2) affects any water right of the Tribe in exist10 ence before the date of enactment of this Act; or 

11 (3) terminates or limits any access in any way 

12 to any right-of-way or right-of-use issued, granted, 

13 or permitted before the date of enactment of this 

14 Act. 

15 (e) RESTRICTED USE OF TRANSFERRED LANDS.— 

16 The Tribe may not conduct, on the land taken into trust 

17 under subsection (b)(1), gaming activities— 

18 (1) as a matter of claimed inherent authority; 

19 or 

20 (2) under any Federal law, including the Indian 

21 Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) 

22 and regulations promulgated by the Secretary or the 

23 National Indian Gaming Commission under that 

24 Act. 


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Calendar No. 31 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 277 

[Report No. 118–2] 

A BILL 

To take certain land located in San Diego County, 

Band of Mission Indians, and for other purposes. California, into trust for the benefit of the Pala 

MARCH 21, 2023 

Reported without amendment 


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