shall be regarded as extinguished as of the date of the
cession.
(c) The Mowa Band of Choctaws has no historical
land claim and cannot, and shall not utilize its Federal
recognition as provided by this Act to assert any historical
land claim. As used herein, ‘‘historical land claim’’ means
a claim to land based upon a contention that the Mowa
Band of Choctaws, or its ancestors, were the native inhab-
itants of such land or based upon the Mowa Band of Choc-
taws’ status as native Americans or based upon the Mowa
Band of Choctaws’ Federal recognition as provided by this
Act.
(d) Except as otherwise specifically provided in sec-
tion 4 or any other provision of this Act, nothing in this
Act may be construed as altering or affecting—
(1) any rights or obligations with respect to
property,
(2) any rights or obligations under any con-
tract, or
(3) any obligation to pay a tax levied before the
date of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 4. LANDS.
(a) All legal rights, title, and interests in lands that
are held by the Mowa Band of Choctaw Indians of Ala-
bama on the date of enactment of this Act are hereby
transferred to the United States in trust for the use and
benefit of the Mowa Band of Choctaw Indians of Alabama.
(b)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
the Mowa Band of Choctaw Indians of Alabama shall
transfer to the Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary
of the Interior shall accept on behalf of the United States,
any interest in lands acquired by such Band after the date
of enactment of this Act. Such lands shall be held by the
United States in trust for the benefit of the Mowa Band
of Choctaw Indians of Alabama.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
Attorney General of the United States shall approve any
deed or other instrument used to make a conveyance
under paragraph (1).
(c) Any lands held in trust by the United States for
the benefit of the Mowa Band of Choctaw Indians of Ala-
bama by reason of this section shall constitute the reserva-
tion of such Band.
(d) The Congress finds that the provisions of this sec-
tion are enacted at the request of the Mowa Band of Choc-
taw Indians of Alabama and are in the best interests of
such Band.
SEC. 5. SERVICES.
The Mowa Band of Choctaw Indians of Alabama, and
the members of such Band, shall be eligible for all services
and benefits that are provided by the Federal Government
to Indians because of their status as federally recognized
Indians and, notwithstanding any other provision of law,
such services and benefits shall be provided after the date
of enactment of this Act to the Band, and to the members
of the Band, without regard to the existence of a reserva-
tion for the Band or the location of the residence of any
member of the Band on or near any Indian reservation.
SEC. 6. CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS.
(a) The Mowa Band of Choctaw Indians of Alabama
may organize for its common welfare and adopt a constitu-
tion and bylaws in accordance with regulations prescribed
by the Secretary of the Interior. The Secretary of the Inte-
rior shall offer to assist the Band in drafting a constitu-
tion and bylaws for the Band.
(b) Any constitution, bylaws, or amendments to the
constitution or bylaws that are adopted by the Mowa Band
of Choctaw Indians of Alabama shall take effect only after
such constitution, bylaws, or amendments are filed with
the Secretary of the Interior.
SEC. 7. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) Until a constitution for the Mowa Band of Choc-
taw Indians of Alabama is adopted, the membership of
the Band shall consist of every individual who—
(1) is named in the tribal membership roll that
is in effect on the date of enactment of this Act, or
(2) is a descendant of any individual described
in paragraph (1).
(b) After the adoption of a constitution by the Mowa
Band of Choctaw Indians of Alabama, the membership of
the Band shall be determined in accordance with the terms
of such constitution or any bylaws adopted under such
constitution.
SEC. 8. REGULATIONS.
The Secretary of the Interior shall prescribe such reg-
ulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes
of this Act.
Æ