I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7541 
To extend Federal recognition to the United Houma Nation, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 5, 2024 
Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To extend Federal recognition to the United Houma Nation, 
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 ‘‘United Houma Rec-
ognition Act of 2024’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) INTERIM TRIBAL GOVERNMENT.—The term 
‘‘interim Tribal Government’’ means the Board of 
Directors of the United Houma Nation, Inc. 
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(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(3) TRIBAL CONSTITUTION.—The term ‘‘Tribal 
constitution’’ means the Tribal constitution adopted 
pursuant to section 4. 
(4) TRIBAL MEMBER.—The term ‘‘Tribal mem-
ber’’ means— 
(A) an individual who is an enrolled mem-
ber of the Tribe as of the date of the enactment 
of this Act; and 
(B) an individual who is placed on the 
membership rolls of the Tribe in accordance 
with this Act. 
(5) TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Tribe’’ means the 
United Houma Nation. 
SEC. 3. FEDERAL RECOGNITION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Federal recognition is extended to 
the Tribe. 
(b) APPLICABILITY OF LAWS.—All laws (including 
regulations) of the United States of general applicability 
to Indians or nations, Indian Tribes, or bands of Indians 
(including the Act of June 18, 1934 (25 U.S.C. 5101 et 
seq.)) that are not inconsistent with this Act shall be ap-
plicable to the Tribe and Tribal members. 
(c) FEDERAL SERVICES AND BENEFITS.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—The Tribe and Tribal mem-
bers shall be eligible for all services and benefits pro-
vided by the Federal Government to federally recog-
nized Indian Tribes without regard to the existence 
of a reservation for the Tribe. 
(2) SERVICE AREA.—For purposes of delivery 
of services and benefits to Tribal members, the serv-
ice area of the Tribe shall be considered to be the 
following parishes in the State of Louisiana: 
(A) St. Mary. 
(B) Terrebonne. 
(C) Lafourche. 
(D) Jefferson. 
(E) Plaquemines. 
(F) St. Bernard. 
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP ROLL. 
(a) INITIAL ROLL.—As a condition of receiving rec-
ognition, services, and benefits pursuant to this Act, the 
Tribe shall submit to the Secretary, by not later than 1 
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, an mem-
bership roll consisting of the name of each individual en-
rolled as a Tribal member. 
(b) DETERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) INITIAL ROLL.—The qualifications for in-
clusion on the membership roll submitted under sub-
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section (a) shall be determined by the interim Tribal 
Government in consultation with the Secretary. 
(2) SUBSEQUENT
MEMBERSHIP.—Upon adop-
tion under section 4, the Tribal constitution shall 
govern membership in the Tribe. 
(c) MAINTENANCE OF ROLL.—The Tribe shall main-
tain the membership roll. 
SEC. 5. TRIBAL CONSTITUTION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after the 
initial membership roll is submitted to the Secretary pur-
suant to section 3(a), the Secretary shall conduct, by se-
cret ballot, an election for the purpose of adopting a con-
stitution for the Tribe in accordance with the procedures 
applicable to elections under section 16 of the Act of June 
18, 1934 (25 U.S.C. 5123). 
(b) NOTICE.—The Secretary shall provide at least 60 
days notice to Tribal members with respect to the date 
of the election held under subsection (a). 
(c) ABSENTEE BALLOTS.—Absentee voting shall be 
permitted with respect to the election under subsection (a) 
regardless of voter residence. 
SEC. 6. GOVERNING BODY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 
(b), the governing body of the Tribe shall be elected in 
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accordance with the election procedures specified in the 
Tribal constitution. 
(b) INTERIM GOVERNMENT.—Until a governing body 
is elected and takes office in accordance with election pro-
cedures specified in the Tribal constitution adopted under 
section 5, the interim Tribal Government shall be the gov-
erning body of the Tribe. 
SEC. 7. RESERVATION OF THE TRIBE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Upon the request of the Tribe, the 
Secretary shall take into trust for the benefit of the Tribe 
any lands held in fee by the Tribe within the service area 
described in section 3(c)(2). 
(b) RESERVATION STATUS.—Any land taken into 
trust for the benefit of the Tribe pursuant to this section 
shall, upon the request of the Tribe, be considered part 
of the reservation of the Tribe. 
(c) GAMING.—The Tribe may not conduct gaming ac-
tivities as a matter of claimed inherent authority or under 
the authority of any Federal law, including the Indian 
Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) or under 
any regulations thereunder promulgated by the Secretary 
or the National Indian Gaming Commission. 
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SEC. 8. REAFFIRMATION OF RIGHTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this Act diminishes 
any right or privilege of the Tribe or any Tribal member 
that existed before the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(b) CLAIMS OF TRIBE.—Except as otherwise pro-
vided in this Act, nothing in this Act alters or affects any 
legal or equitable claim of the Tribe to enforce any right 
or privilege reserved by, or granted to, the Tribe that was 
wrongfully denied to, or taken from, the Tribe before the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
(c) HUNTING AND FISHING RIGHTS.—Nothing in 
this Act expands, reduces, or affects in any manner any 
hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, or water rights of 
the Tribe and Tribal members. 
Æ 
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