thorize a restoration of its Federal status, as herein-
after described. 
(9) The Congress shares with the State of 
Texas and the parties to this litigation a desire to 
empower the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe to govern its 
own economic future and appreciates the Tribe’s 
willingness to forego its aboriginal rights in ex-
change for improved economic self-sufficiency. 
(10) This legislation represents a good faith ef-
fort on the part of Congress to provide the Alabama- 
Coushatta Tribe with an economic development op-
portunity under the same terms and conditions as 
other federally recognized Indian tribes, in exchange 
for the Tribe’s agreement to relinquish its rights as 
described above. 
(11) In the absence of Congressional action, 
these land claims and related claims will be pursued 
through the courts, a process which in all likelihood 
will consume many years and thereby promote hos-
tility and uncertainty in the State of Texas, to the 
ultimate detriment of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe, 
its members, and all other citizens of the State of 
Texas. 
(b) PURPOSES.— 
It is the purpose of this subchapter— 
VerDate Mar 14 2013 
20:48 Mar 19, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1144.IH
H1144
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(1) to recognize the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe’s 
loss of its aboriginal lands and the resulting loss of 
any economically productive use of those lands for 
decades; 
(2) to restore an economic development oppor-
tunity to the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe on terms 
that are equal and fair; 
(3) to resolve questions about the rights and 
obligations of those landowners in Texas that hold 
title subject to the Tribe’s aboriginal title; and 
(4) to insulate the Federal Government and 
taxpayers from potentially greater and ongoing li-
ability from these claims. 
SEC. 3. RESTORATION ACT AMENDMENT. 
For the purpose of restoring an economic develop-
ment opportunity on terms that are equal and fair, Section 
207 of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas Restora-
tion Act, Public Law 100–89 (25 U.S.C. 737) is hereby 
deleted. 
SEC. 4. JUDGMENT AND DISMISSAL OF LITIGATION. 
Not later than six months after the date of enact-
ment, the United States and the Alabama-Coushatta 
Tribe of Texas shall execute and file with the United 
States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas 
VerDate Mar 14 2013 
20:48 Mar 19, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1144.IH
H1144
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
in the pending litigation a motion for entry of final judg-
ment in accordance with the terms of this subchapter. 
SEC. 5. APPROVAL OF PRIOR TRANSFERS AND EXTIN-
GUISHMENT OF CLAIMS AND ABORIGINAL 
TITLE. 
(a) APPROVAL AND RATIFICATION OF PRIOR TRANS-
FERS.— 
Any invalid transfer before the date of the in-
troduction of this legislation of land or natural re-
sources located within the State of Texas, including 
but not limited to transfers pursuant to a statute or 
treaty of, or with, any State or the United States, 
from, by, or on behalf of the Alabama-Coushatta 
Tribe of Texas, or any predecessor in interest or any 
of its members, shall be deemed to have been made 
in compliance with the Constitution and all laws of 
the United States. Congress hereby does approve 
and ratify any such invalid transfer effective as of 
the date of said transfer. 
(b) EXTINGUISHMENT OF ABORIGINAL TITLE.— 
By virtue of the approval and ratification of a 
transfer of land or natural resources effected by sub-
section (a) of this section, any aboriginal title held 
by the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, or any 
predecessor in interest or any of its members, to any 
VerDate Mar 14 2013 
20:48 Mar 19, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1144.IH
H1144
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
land or natural resources the transfer of which was 
approved and ratified by subsection (a) of this sec-
tion shall be regarded as extinguished as of the date 
of such transfer. 
(c) EXTINGUISHMENT OF CLAIMS.— 
By virtue of the approval and ratification of a 
transfer of land or natural resources effected by this 
section, or the extinguishment of aboriginal title ef-
fected hereby, any claim (including any claim for 
damages for trespass or for use and occupancy) by, 
or on behalf of, the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of 
Texas, or any predecessor in interest or any of its 
members, against the United States or the State of 
Texas which is based on— 
(1) any interest in or right involving any land 
or natural resources the transfer of which was ap-
proved and ratified by subsection (a) of this section, 
or 
(2) any aboriginal title to land or natural re-
sources the extinguishment of which was effected by 
subsection (b) of this section, 
shall be regarded as extinguished as of the date of any 
such transfer. 
(d) SAVINGS PROVISIONS.— 
VerDate Mar 14 2013 
20:48 Mar 19, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1144.IH
H1144
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(1) Nothing in this section shall be construed to 
affect or eliminate the personal claim of an indi-
vidual Indian (except for a Federal common law 
fraud claim) which is pursued under any law of gen-
eral applicability that protects non-Indians as well as 
Indians. 
(2) Nothing in this subchapter is intended to 
alter the status of lands held in trust by the United 
States on behalf of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of 
Texas. 
Æ 
VerDate Mar 14 2013 
20:48 Mar 19, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H1144.IH
H1144
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS