I 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4629 
To extend Federal recognition to the Muscogee Nation of Florida. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 25, 2016 
Mr. MILLER of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To extend Federal recognition to the Muscogee Nation of 
Florida. 
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 ‘‘Muscogee Nation of 
Florida Federal Recognition Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
(1) the Muscogee Nation of Florida is composed 
of lineal descendants of persons who were histori-
cally part of the Creek Confederacy, which relocated 
from Daleville, Alabama, and other areas of south-
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ern Alabama to the State of Florida between 1812 
and 1887; 
(2) those Creek persons settled in the north 
Florida panhandle in autonomous communities (re-
ferred to in the constitution of the Muscogee Nation 
as ‘‘Townships’’), continuing the lifestyle and tradi-
tions practiced by the historic Creek Nation of Ala-
bama and Georgia; 
(3)(A) on dissolution of the Creek Confederacy, 
the ancestors of current members of the Muscogee 
Nation of Florida relocated and reestablished home 
sites, traditions, ceremonial centers, tribal govern-
ment (including through the traditional appointment 
of tribal leaders), and tribal economy in rural areas 
of the State of Florida; 
(B) the relocation described in subparagraph 
(A) did not prevent the Nation from— 
(i) continuing to exercise the governing 
powers of the Nation; 
(ii) providing services to members of the 
Nation; or 
(iii) enjoying the communal lifestyle of the 
Nation; and 
(C) some members of the Nation remain on 
original home sites of their Creek ancestors; 
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(4) members of the Nation— 
(A) participated in the 1814 Treaty of Ft. 
Jackson and the Apalachicola Treaty of October 
11, 1832; and 
(B) were included in the Abbott-Parsons 
Creek Census, dated 1832 and 1833; 
(5) members of the Nation have established an 
ancestral claim to land taken from the Nation by 
General Andrew Jackson in the aftermath of the 
War of 1812 pursuant to the 1814 Treaty of Ft. 
Jackson; 
(6) beginning in 1971, the Secretary of the In-
terior distributed to members of the Nation in 3 ac-
tions per capita payments for land claim settle-
ments; 
(7)(A) in 1974, the State of Florida established 
the Northwest Florida Creek Indian Council to man-
age issues relating to Creek Indians in northwest 
Florida; and 
(B) in 1978, the Council held an election for 
representatives to the tribal government known as 
the ‘‘Florida Tribe of Eastern Creek Indians’’, which 
is now the Muscogee Nation of Florida; 
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(8) the community of Bruce in Walton County, 
Florida, has been a governing center for the Nation 
for more than 150 years; 
(9) in the community of Bruce, the Nation— 
(A) beginning in the early 1860s, used and 
maintained the Antioch Cemetery, which re-
mains in use by members of the Nation as of 
the date of enactment of this Act; 
(B) between 1895 and 1947, maintained a 
school that was attended by members of the 
Nation; 
(C) in 1912, established a church that is 
recognized by the Methodist Conference as a 
Native American church; and 
(D) maintained a ceremonial area on 
Bruce Creek that was attended until the late 
1920s; 
(10) the ceremonial area of the Nation, as in 
existence on the date of enactment of this Act— 
(A) is located in the community of 
Blountstown, Florida, one of the reservations 
referred to in the Apalachicola Treaty of Octo-
ber 11, 1832; and 
(B) is the site of continuing ceremonies, 
such as Green Corn, and traditional events; 
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(11) local governments have recognized the 
community of Bruce as the center of tribal govern-
ment of the Nation; and 
(12) during the 30-year period preceding the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Nation has re-
ceived Federal, State, and local grants, and entered 
into contracts, to provide services and benefits to 
members of the Nation. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) MEMBER.—The term ‘‘member’’ means— 
(A) an individual who is an enrolled mem-
ber of the Nation as of the date of enactment 
of this Act; and 
(B) an individual who has been placed on 
the membership rolls of the Nation in accord-
ance with this Act. 
(2) NATION.—The term ‘‘Nation’’ means the 
Muscogee Nation of Florida (formerly known as the 
‘‘Florida Tribe of Eastern Creek Indians’’). 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(4) TRIBAL COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘Tribal Coun-
cil’’ means the governing body of the Nation. 
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SEC. 4. FEDERAL RECOGNITION. 
(a) RECOGNITION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Federal recognition is ex-
tended to the Nation. 
(2) APPLICABILITY OF LAWS.—All laws (includ-
ing regulations) of the United States of general ap-
plicability to Indians or nations, Indian tribes, or 
bands of Indians (including the Act of June 18, 
1934 (25 U.S.C. 461 et seq.)) that are not incon-
sistent with this Act shall be applicable to the Na-
tion and members. 
(b) FEDERAL SERVICES AND BENEFITS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—On and after the date of en-
actment of this Act, the Nation and members shall 
be eligible for all services and benefits provided by 
the Federal Government to federally recognized In-
dian tribes without regard to— 
(A) the existence of a reservation for the 
Nation; or 
(B) the location of the residence of any 
member on or near any Indian reservation. 
(2) SERVICE AREA.—For the purpose of the de-
livery of Federal services to members, the service 
area of the Nation shall be considered to be— 
(A) the community of Bruce in Walton 
County, Florida; and 
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(B) an area in the State of Florida in 
which members reside that is bordered— 
(i) on the west by the Escambia 
River; and 
(ii) on the east by the St. Marks 
River. 
SEC. 5. CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The constitution and bylaws of 
the Nation shall be the constitution and bylaws of the 
Tribal Council dated January 21, 2001 (including amend-
ments), as submitted to the Secretary for approval on rec-
ognition. 
(b) NEW CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS.—On receipt 
of a written request of the Tribal Council, the Secretary 
shall hold a referendum for members for the purpose of 
adopting a new constitution and bylaws, in accordance 
with section 16 of the Act of June 18, 1934 (25 U.S.C. 
476). 
SEC. 6. TRIBAL COUNCIL. 
The Tribal Council— 
(1) shall represent the Nation and members; 
and 
(2) may— 
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(A) enter into any contract, grant agree-
ment, or other agreement with any Federal de-
partment or agency; 
(B) carry out or administer such programs 
as the Tribal Council determines to be appro-
priate to carry out the contracts and agree-
ments; and 
(C) designate a successor in interest pur-
suant to a new constitution or bylaw of the Na-
tion adopted under section 5(b). 
SEC. 7. MEMBERSHIP ROLL. 
The membership roll of the Nation shall be deter-
mined in accordance with the membership criteria estab-
lished by the ordinance of the Nation numbered 04–01– 
100 and dated February 7, 2004. 
SEC. 8. LAND IN TRUST. 
The Secretary is authorized to take land in trust on 
behalf of the Muscogee Nation of Florida pursuant to part 
151 of title 25, Code of Federal Regulations. 
Æ 
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