116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 297 

AN ACT 

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, 
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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Little Shell Tribe of 

3 Chippewa Indians Restoration Act of 2019’’. 

4 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

5 In this Act: 

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

7 individual who is enrolled in the Tribe pursuant to 

8 section 6. 

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

10 the Secretary of the Interior. 

11 (3) TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Tribe’’ means the Lit12 tle Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana. 

13 SEC. 3. FEDERAL RECOGNITION. 

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

15 the Tribe. 

16 (b) EFFECT OF FEDERAL LAWS.—Except as other17 wise provided in this Act, all Federal laws (including regu18 lations) of general application to Indians and Indian 

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

20 5101 et seq.) (commonly known as the ‘‘Indian Reorga21 nization Act’’), shall apply to the Tribe and members. 

22 SEC. 4. FEDERAL SERVICES AND BENEFITS. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on the date of enact24 ment of this Act, the Tribe and each member shall be eligi25 ble for all services and benefits provided by the United 
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1 States to Indians and federally recognized Indian tribes, 

2 without regard to— 

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

4 or 

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

6 on or near an Indian reservation. 

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

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

9 Tribe shall be considered to be the area comprised of 

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

11 of Montana. 

12 SEC. 5. REAFFIRMATION OF RIGHTS. 

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

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

15 existed before the date of enactment of this Act. 

16 (b) CLAIMS OF TRIBE.—Except as otherwise pro17 vided in this Act, nothing in this Act alters or affects any 

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

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

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

21 date of enactment of this Act. 

22 SEC. 6. MEMBERSHIP ROLL. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—As a condition of receiving rec24 ognition, services, and benefits pursuant to this Act, the 

25 Tribe shall submit to the Secretary, by not later than 18 
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1 months after the date of enactment of this Act, a member2 ship roll consisting of the name of each individual enrolled 

3 as a member of the Tribe. 

4 (b) DETERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP.—The quali5 fications for inclusion on the membership roll of the Tribe 

6 shall be determined in accordance with sections 1 through 

7 3 of article 5 of the constitution of the Tribe dated Sep8 tember 10, 1977 (including amendments to the constitu9 tion). 

10 (c) MAINTENANCE OF ROLL.—The Tribe shall main11 tain the membership roll under this section. 

12 SEC. 7. TRANSFER OF LAND. 

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

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

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

16 base. 

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

18 additional land for the benefit of the Tribe pursuant to 

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

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

Passed the House of Representatives March 26, 

2019. 

Attest: 

Clerk. 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 297 

AN ACT 

To extend the Federal recognition to the Little 

for other purposes. Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana, and