I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2498 

To extend Federal recognition to the Nor Rel Muk Wintu Nation, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 6, 2023 

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

Committee on Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To extend Federal recognition to the Nor Rel Muk Wintu 

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 ‘‘Nor Rel Muk Wintu 

5 Nation Federal Recognition Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FEDERAL RECOGNITION. 

7 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act: 

8 (1) GOVERNING DOCUMENT.—The term ‘‘gov9 erning document’’ means the Constitution of the 


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1 Nor Rel Muk Wintu Nation, revised and adopted on 

2 September 19, 2020 (and successor documents). 

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

4 the Secretary of the Interior. 

5 (3) TRIBAL MEMBER.—The term ‘‘Tribal mem6 ber’’ means— 

7 (A) an individual who is an enrolled mem8 ber of the Tribe as of the date of the enactment 

9 of this Act; or 

10 (B) an individual who has been placed on 

11 the membership rolls of the Tribe in accordance 

12 with this Act. 

13 (4) TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Tribe’’ means the Nor 

14 Rel Muk Wintu Nation. 

15 (b) FEDERAL RECOGNITION.— 

16 (1) IN GENERAL.—Federal recognition is ex17 tended to the Tribe. 

18 (2) APPLICABILITY OF LAWS.—All laws (includ19 ing regulations) of the United States of general ap20 plicability to Indians or nations, Indian Tribes, or 

21 bands of Indians (including the Act of June 18, 

22 1934 (25 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.)) that are not incon23 sistent with this Act shall be applicable to the Tribe 

24 and Tribal members. 

25 (3) FEDERAL SERVICES AND BENEFITS.— 


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1 (A) IN GENERAL.—On and after the date 

2 of the enactment of this Act, the Tribe and 

3 Tribal members shall be eligible for all services 

4 and benefits provided by the Federal Govern5 ment to federally recognized Indian Tribes 

6 without regard to— 

7 (i) the existence of a reservation for 

8 the Tribe; or 

9 (ii) the location of the residence of 

10 any Tribal member on or near any Indian 

11 reservation. 

12 (B) SERVICE AREA.—For the purpose of 

13 the delivery of Federal services to Tribal mem14 bers, the service area of the Tribe shall be con15 sidered to be Trinity County, California. 

16 (c) MEMBERSHIP.— 

17 (1) IN GENERAL.—As a condition of receiving 

18 recognition, services, and benefits pursuant to this 

19 Act, the Tribe shall submit to the Secretary, by not 

20 later than 18 months after the date of the enact21 ment of this Act, a membership roll consisting of the 

22 name of each individual enrolled as a Tribal mem23 ber. 

24 (2) DETERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP.—The 

25 qualifications for inclusion on the membership roll of 


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1 the Tribe shall be determined in accordance with the 

2 governing document. 

3 (3) MAINTENANCE OF ROLL.—The Tribe shall 

4 have the sole authority and responsibility to main5 tain the membership roll consistent with the gov6 erning document. 

7 (d) GOVERNING BODY.—The governing body of the 

8 Tribe shall be— 

9 (1) the governing body of the Tribe on the date 

10 of enactment of this Act, consistent with the gov11 erning document; or 

12 (2) any subsequent governing body elected in 

13 accordance with the election procedures specified in 

14 the governing document. 

15 (e) TREATY AND RESERVED RIGHTS.—Nothing in 

16 this Act expands, reduces, or in any manner affects any 

17 treaty rights or reserved rights of the Tribe. 

Æ 


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