I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 297 

To extend the Federal recognition to the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa 

Indians of Montana, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 8, 2019 

Mr. GIANFORTE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To extend the Federal recognition to the Little Shell Tribe 

of Chippewa Indians of Montana, 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 ‘‘Little Shell Tribe of 

5 Chippewa Indians Restoration Act of 2019’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 

8 (1) MEMBER.—The term ‘‘member’’ means an 

9 individual who is enrolled in the Tribe pursuant to 

10 section 6. 


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

2 the Secretary of the Interior. 

3 (3) TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Tribe’’ means the Lit4 tle Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana. 

5 SEC. 3. FEDERAL RECOGNITION. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—Federal recognition is extended to 

7 the Tribe. 

8 (b) EFFECT OF FEDERAL LAWS.—Except as other9 wise provided in this Act, all Federal laws (including regu10 lations) of general application to Indians and Indian 

11 tribes, including the Act of June 18, 1934 (25 U.S.C. 

12 5101 et seq.) (commonly known as the ‘‘Indian Reorga13 nization Act’’), shall apply to the Tribe and members. 

14 SEC. 4. FEDERAL SERVICES AND BENEFITS. 

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on the date of enact16 ment of this Act, the Tribe and each member shall be eligi17 ble for all services and benefits provided by the United 

18 States to Indians and federally recognized Indian tribes, 

19 without regard to— 

20 (1) the existence of a reservation for the Tribe; 

21 or 

22 (2) the location of the residence of any member 

23 on or near an Indian reservation. 

24 (b) SERVICE AREA.—For purposes of the delivery of 

25 services and benefits to members, the service area of the 


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1 Tribe shall be considered to be the area comprised of 

2 Blaine, Cascade, Glacier, and Hill Counties in the State 

3 of Montana. 

4 SEC. 5. REAFFIRMATION OF RIGHTS. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this Act diminishes 

6 any right or privilege of the Tribe or any member that 

7 existed before the date of enactment of this Act. 

8 (b) CLAIMS OF TRIBE.—Except as otherwise pro9 vided in this Act, nothing in this Act alters or affects any 

10 legal or equitable claim of the Tribe to enforce any right 

11 or privilege reserved by, or granted to, the Tribe that was 

12 wrongfully denied to, or taken from, the Tribe before the 

13 date of enactment of this Act. 

14 SEC. 6. MEMBERSHIP ROLL. 

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—As a condition of receiving rec16 ognition, services, and benefits pursuant to this Act, the 

17 Tribe shall submit to the Secretary, by not later than 18 

18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, a member19 ship roll consisting of the name of each individual enrolled 

20 as a member of the Tribe. 

21 (b) DETERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP.—The quali22 fications for inclusion on the membership roll of the Tribe 

23 shall be determined in accordance with sections 1 through 

24 3 of article 5 of the constitution of the Tribe dated SepVerDate Sep 11 2014 21:47 Jan 18, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H297.IH H297

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1 tember 10, 1977 (including amendments to the constitu2 tion). 

3 (c) MAINTENANCE OF ROLL.—The Tribe shall main4 tain the membership roll under this section. 

5 SEC. 7. TRANSFER OF LAND. 

6 (a) HOMELAND.—The Secretary shall acquire, for the 

7 benefit of the Tribe, trust title to 200 acres of land within 

8 the service area of the Tribe to be used for a tribal land 

9 base. 

10 (b) ADDITIONAL LAND.—The Secretary may acquire 

11 additional land for the benefit of the Tribe pursuant to 

12 section 5 of the Act of June 18, 1934 (25 U.S.C. 5108) 

13 (commonly known as the ‘‘Indian Reorganization Act’’). 

Æ 


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