To refer H.R. 3133, a bill making congressional reference to the United States Court of Federal Claims pursuant to sections 1492 and 2509 of title 28, United States Code, of certain Indian land-related takings claims of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan and its individual members.

1. Referral Pursuant to section 1492 of title 28, United States Code, the bill (H.R. 3133) entitled A Bill relating to certain Indian land-related takings claims of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan and its individual members, 2. Proceeding and report Upon receipt of the bill, the chief judge shall, notwithstanding the bar of any statute of limitations— (1) proceed according to the provisions of sections 1492 and 2509 of title 28, United States Code; and (2) report back to the House of Representatives, at the earliest practicable date, providing findings of fact and conclusions of law that are sufficient to inform the Congress of— (A) the nature, extent, and character of the legal or equitable claims of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan, on behalf of itself and of its individual members, for just compensation against the United States for land-related takings within the areas reserved for the Band and its members by Article 1 of the July 31, 1855, Treaty with the Ottawa and Chippewa, 11 Stat. 621; (B) whether the Band has good cause for not having filed said claims with the Indian Claims Commission within the August 13, 1946, to August 13, 1951, limitations period established by the Indian Claims Commission Act of 1946, and accordingly has good cause to be excused from that limitations period; (C) whether any other statute of limitations bar is applicable to the Band’s claims; and if so, whether the Band has good cause to be excused from the operation of any such bar; (D) whether the doctrine of laches is applicable to the Band’s claims; and if so, whether the Band has good cause to be excused from the operation of that doctrine; and (E) the amount of just compensation, if any, legally or equitably due from the United States to the Band, on behalf of itself and of its individual members.

Summary: Refers H.R. 3133, which directs the Department of the Treasury to pay an unspecified sum to the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan and its members pursuant to a judgment rendered by the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, to the chief judge of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims for a determination as to whether the Band has legal or equitable claims for just compensation against the United States for land-related takings occurring between 1855 and 1900 within the areas reserved for the Band and its members by the Treaty with the Ottawa and Chippewa. Directs the chief judge to report back to the House of Representatives providing findings of fact and conclusions of law to inform Congress of: the nature, extent, and character of such claims; whether the Band has good cause to be excused from the limitations period established by the Indian Claims Commission Act of 1946 for filing such claims (August 13, 1946, to August 13, 1951); whether any other statute of limitations bar or the doctrine of laches is applicable to the Band's claims and, if so, whether the Band has good cause to be excused from its operation; and the amount of just compensation, if any, legally or equitably due from the United States to the Band.