I 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5215 
To provide for the restoration of Federal recognition to the Clatsop-Nehalem 
Confederated Tribes of Oregon, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 28, 2014 
Ms. BONAMICI introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To provide for the restoration of Federal recognition to the 
Clatsop-Nehalem Confederated Tribes of Oregon, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Clatsop-Nehalem Res-
toration Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) INTERIM
COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘Interim 
Council’’ means the council which is established 
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under, and the members elected pursuant to, section 
5. 
(2) MEMBER.—The term ‘‘member’’, when used 
with respect to the tribe, means an individual en-
rolled on the membership roll of the tribe in accord-
ance with section 7. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior or his designated rep-
resentative. 
(4) TRIBAL
GOVERNING
BODY.—The term 
‘‘tribal governing body’’ means the governing body 
that is established under, and the members elected 
pursuant to, the tribal constitution and bylaws 
adopted in accordance with section 6. 
(5) TRIBE.—The term ‘‘tribe’’ means Clatsop- 
Nehalem Confederated Tribes of Oregon considered 
as one tribe in accordance with section 3. 
SEC. 3. CONSIDERATION OF THE CLATSOP-NEHALEM CON-
FEDERATED TRIBES AS ONE TRIBE. 
The Clatsop-Nehalem Confederated Tribes of Oregon 
shall be considered as one tribal unit for purposes of Fed-
eral recognition and eligibility for Federal benefits under 
section 4, the establishment of tribal self-government 
under sections 5 and 6, and the compilation of a tribal 
membership roll under section 7. 
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SEC. 4. RESTORATION OF FEDERAL RECOGNITION, RIGHTS, 
AND PRIVILEGES. 
(a) FEDERAL RECOGNITION.—Notwithstanding any 
provision of the Act approved August 13, 1954 (25 U.S.C. 
691 et seq.) or any other law, Federal recognition is ex-
tended to the Clatsop-Nehalem Confederated Tribes of Or-
egon. Nothing is this bill shall affect or diminish the treaty 
rights previously determined for other federally recognized 
Indian tribes. 
(b) RESTORATION OF RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES.— 
Except as provided in subsection (d), all rights and privi-
leges of the tribe and the members of the tribe under any 
Federal treaty, Executive order, agreement, statute, or 
other Federal authority, that may have been diminished 
or lost under the Act approved August 13, 1954 (25 
U.S.C. 691 et seq.) are restored, and the provisions of 
such Act shall be inapplicable to the tribe and to members 
of the tribe after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(c) FEDERAL SERVICES AND BENEFITS.—Notwith-
standing any other provision of law, the tribe and its mem-
bers shall be eligible, on and after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, for all Federal services and benefits fur-
nished to federally recognized Indian tribes without regard 
to the existence of a reservation for the tribe. In the case 
of Federal services available to members of federally rec-
ognized Indian tribes residing on or near a reservation, 
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members of the tribe residing in the following counties of 
the State of Oregon shall be deemed to be residing on or 
near a reservation: 
(1) Tillamook County. 
(2) Clatsop County. 
(d) NO HUNTING, FISHING OR TRAPPING RIGHTS 
RESTORED.—No hunting, fishing, or trapping rights of 
any nature of the tribe or of any member, including any 
indirect or procedural right or advantage over individuals 
who are not members, are granted or restored under this 
Act. 
(e) EFFECT ON PROPERTY RIGHTS AND OTHER OB-
LIGATIONS.—Except as otherwise specifically provided in 
this Act, no provision contained in this Act shall alter any 
property right or obligation, any contractual right or obli-
gation, or any obligation for taxes already levied. 
SEC. 5. INTERIM COUNCIL. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established an In-
terim Council of the tribe which shall be composed of nine 
members. The Interim Council shall— 
(1) represent the tribe and its members in the 
implementation of this Act; and 
(2) be the governing body of the tribe until the 
tribal governing body convenes. 
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(b) NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF INTERIM COUN-
CIL MEMBERS.— 
(1) GENERAL
COUNCIL
MEETING.—Not later 
than 45 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary shall announce the date of a gen-
eral council meeting of the tribe to nominate can-
didates for election to the Interim Council. Such 
general council meeting shall be held not later than 
15 days after such announcement. 
(2) ELECTION.—Not later than 45 days after 
the general council meeting held under paragraph 
(1), the Secretary shall hold an election by secret 
ballot to elect the members of the Interim Council 
from among the members nominated in the general 
council meeting. Absentee and write-in balloting 
shall be permitted. 
(3) APPROVAL
OF
RESULTS.—The Secretary 
shall approve the results of the Interim Council elec-
tion conducted pursuant to this subsection if the 
Secretary is satisfied that the requirements of this 
section relating to the nomination and the election 
processes have been met. If the Secretary is not so 
satisfied, the Secretary shall— 
(A) call for another general council meet-
ing to be held not later than 60 days after such 
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election to nominate candidates for election to 
the Interim Council; and 
(B) hold another election within 45 days of 
such meeting. 
(4) NOTICE.—The Secretary shall take any ac-
tion necessary to ensure that each member described 
in section 7(d) is given notice of the time, place, and 
purpose of each meeting and election held pursuant 
to this subsection not less than 10 days before the 
general meeting or election. 
(c) AUTHORITY AND CAPACITY; TERMINATION.—The 
Interim Council shall— 
(1) have no powers other than those given it 
under this Act; 
(2) with respect to any Federal service or ben-
efit for which the tribe or any member is eligible, 
have full authority and capacity to receive grants 
and to enter into contracts; 
(3) except as provided in subsection (d), termi-
nate on the date that the tribal governing body first 
convenes; and 
(4) with respect to any contractual right estab-
lished and any obligation entered into by the Interim 
Council, have the authority and capacity to bind the 
tribal governing body, as the successor in interest to 
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