I 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 8255 

To clarify the status of gaming conducted by the Catawba Indian Nation, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 

Mr. BUTTERFIELD (for himself, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. CUNNINGHAM, Ms. 

ADAMS, Mr. PRICE of North Carolina, Mr. BISHOP of North Carolina, 

Mr. TIMMONS, and Mr. WILSON of South Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To clarify the status of gaming conducted by the Catawba 

Indian Nation, 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 ‘‘Catawba Indian Nation 

5 Lands Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. APPLICATION OF CURRENT LAW. 

7 (a) LANDS IN SOUTH CAROLINA.—Section 14 of the 

8 Catawba Indian Tribe of South Carolina Claims Settle9 ment Act of 1993 (Public Law 103–116) shall only apply 


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1 to gaming conducted by the Catawba Indian Nation on 

2 lands located in South Carolina. 

3 (b) LANDS IN STATES OTHER THAN SOUTH CARO4 LINA.—Gaming conducted by the Catawba Indian Nation 

5 on lands located in States other than South Carolina shall 

6 be subject to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 

7 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) and sections 1166 through 1168 of 

8 title 18, United States Code. 

9 SEC. 3. REAFFIRMATION OF STATUS AND ACTIONS. 

10 (a) RATIFICATION OF TRUST STATUS.—The action 

11 taken by the Secretary on July 10, 2020, to place approxi12 mately 17 acres of land located in Cleveland County, 

13 North Carolina, into trust for the benefit of the Catawba 

14 Indian Nation is hereby ratified and confirmed as if that 

15 action had been taken under a Federal law specifically au16 thorizing or directing that action. 

17 (b) ADMINISTRATION.—The land placed into trust for 

18 the benefit of the Catawba Indian Nation by the Secretary 

19 on July 10, 2020, shall— 

20 (1) be a part of the Catawba Reservation and 

21 administered in accordance with the laws and regu22 lations generally applicable to land held in trust by 

23 the United States for an Indian Tribe; and 

24 (2) be deemed to have been acquired and taken 

25 into trust as part of the restoration of lands for an 


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1 Indian tribe that is restored to Federal recognition 

2 pursuant to section 20(b)(1)(B)(iii) of the Indian 

3 Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 

4 2719(b)(1)(B)(iii)). 

5 (c) RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this Act 

6 shall— 

7 (1) enlarge, impair, or otherwise affect any 

8 right or claim of the Catawba Indian Nation to any 

9 land or interest in land in existence before the date 

10 of the enactment of this Act; 

11 (2) affect any water right of the Catawba In12 dian Nation in existence before the date of the en13 actment of this Act; 

14 (3) terminate or limit any access in any way to 

15 any right-of-way or right-of-use issued, granted, or 

16 permitted before the date of the enactment of this 

17 Act; or 

18 (4) alter or diminish the right of the Catawba 

19 Indian Nation to seek to have additional land taken 

20 into trust by the United States for the benefit of the 

21 Catawba Indian Nation. 

Æ 


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