II 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 3443 

To extend Federal recognition to the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JANUARY 5, 2022 

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

to the Committee on Indian Affairs 

A BILL 

To extend Federal recognition to the MOWA Band of 

Choctaw 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 ‘‘MOWA Band of Choc5 taw Indians Recognition Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 

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


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1 (A) an individual who is an enrolled mem2 ber of the Tribe as of the date of enactment of 

3 this Act; and 

4 (B) an individual who is included on the 

5 membership roll of the Tribe under section 4. 

6 (2) RESERVATION.—The term ‘‘Reservation’’ 

7 means the boundaries of the reservation of the 

8 Tribe, which are the same as the boundaries of 

9 Washington County and Mobile County in the State 

10 of Alabama. 

11 (3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

12 the Secretary of the Interior. 

13 (4) TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Tribe’’ means the 

14 MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians. 

15 SEC. 3. FEDERAL RECOGNITION. 

16 (a) FEDERAL RECOGNITION.— 

17 (1) IN GENERAL.—Federal recognition is ex18 tended to the Tribe. 

19 (2) APPLICABILITY OF LAWS.—All laws (includ20 ing regulations) of the United States of general ap21 plicability to Indians or Indian Tribes, nations, or 

22 bands of Indians, including the Act of June 18, 

23 1934 (commonly known as the ‘‘Indian Reorganiza24 tion Act’’) (48 Stat. 984, chapter 576; 25 U.S.C. 


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1 5101 et seq.), that are not inconsistent with this Act 

2 shall be applicable to the Tribe and the members. 

3 (b) FEDERAL SERVICES AND BENEFITS.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on the date of en5 actment of this Act, the Tribe and the members 

6 shall be eligible for all services and benefits provided 

7 by the Federal Government to federally recognized 

8 Indian Tribes and members of federally recognized 

9 Indian Tribes, without regard to— 

10 (A) the existence of a reservation for the 

11 Tribe; or 

12 (B) the location of the residence of any 

13 member, including whether the member resides 

14 on or near a reservation. 

15 (2) SERVICE AREA.—For the purpose of the de16 livery of Federal services and benefits to members, 

17 the service area of the Tribe shall be considered to 

18 be the area comprised of Washington County and 

19 Mobile County in the State of Alabama. 

20 SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP ROLL. 

21 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months after 

22 the date of enactment of this Act, the Tribe shall submit 

23 to the Secretary an initial membership roll consisting of 

24 the name of each individual enrolled as a member of the 

25 Tribe. 


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1 (b) DETERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP.—The quali2 fications for inclusion on the membership roll of the Tribe 

3 shall be determined in accordance with— 

4 (1) the Constitution of the Mobile-Washington 

5 County Band of Choctaw Indians of South Alabama, 

6 enacted on June 15, 1991; and 

7 (2) any amendments or changes to the Con8 stitution. 

9 (c) MAINTENANCE OF ROLL.—The Tribe shall have 

10 the sole authority and responsibility to maintain the mem11 bership roll under this section. 

12 SEC. 5. RESERVATION OF THE TRIBE. 

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall acquire and 

14 take into trust for the benefit of the Tribe title to land 

15 identified by the Tribe, not to exceed 3,223 acres, within 

16 the Reservation. 

17 (b) SUBSEQUENT TRUST ACQUISITIONS.—The Sec18 retary may acquire and take into trust for the benefit of 

19 the Tribe additional land pursuant to section 5 of the Act 

20 of June 18, 1934 (commonly known as the ‘‘Indian Reor21 ganization Act’’) (25 U.S.C. 5108). 

Æ 


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