II 
Calendar No. 48 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 297 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
MARCH 27, 2019 
Received; read the first time 
MARCH 28, 2019 
Read the second time and placed on the calendar 
AN ACT 
To extend the Federal recognition to the Little Shell Tribe 
of Chippewa Indians of Montana, 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 ‘‘Little Shell Tribe of 
Chippewa Indians Restoration Act of 2019’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) MEMBER.—The term ‘‘member’’ means an 
individual who is enrolled in the Tribe pursuant to 
section 6. 
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(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(3) TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Tribe’’ means the Lit-
tle Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana. 
SEC. 3. FEDERAL RECOGNITION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Federal recognition is extended to 
the Tribe. 
(b) EFFECT OF FEDERAL LAWS.—Except as other-
wise provided in this Act, all Federal laws (including regu-
lations) of general application to Indians and Indian 
tribes, including the Act of June 18, 1934 (25 U.S.C. 
5101 et seq.) (commonly known as the ‘‘Indian Reorga-
nization Act’’), shall apply to the Tribe and members. 
SEC. 4. FEDERAL SERVICES AND BENEFITS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Tribe and each member shall be eligi-
ble for all services and benefits provided by the United 
States to Indians and federally recognized Indian tribes, 
without regard to— 
(1) the existence of a reservation for the Tribe; 
or 
(2) the location of the residence of any member 
on or near an Indian reservation. 
(b) SERVICE AREA.—For purposes of the delivery of 
services and benefits to members, the service area of the 
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Tribe shall be considered to be the area comprised of 
Blaine, Cascade, Glacier, and Hill Counties in the State 
of Montana. 
SEC. 5. REAFFIRMATION OF RIGHTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this Act diminishes 
any right or privilege of the Tribe or any member that 
existed before the date of 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 enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 6. MEMBERSHIP ROLL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—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 18 
months after the date of enactment of this Act, a member-
ship roll consisting of the name of each individual enrolled 
as a member of the Tribe. 
(b) DETERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP.—The quali-
fications for inclusion on the membership roll of the Tribe 
shall be determined in accordance with sections 1 through 
3 of article 5 of the constitution of the Tribe dated Sep-
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tember 10, 1977 (including amendments to the constitu-
tion). 
(c) MAINTENANCE OF ROLL.—The Tribe shall main-
tain the membership roll under this section. 
SEC. 7. TRANSFER OF LAND. 
(a) HOMELAND.—The Secretary shall acquire, for the 
benefit of the Tribe, trust title to 200 acres of land within 
the service area of the Tribe to be used for a tribal land 
base. 
(b) ADDITIONAL LAND.—The Secretary may acquire 
additional land for the benefit of the Tribe pursuant to 
section 5 of the Act of June 18, 1934 (25 U.S.C. 5108) 
(commonly known as the ‘‘Indian Reorganization Act’’). 
Passed the House of Representatives March 26, 
2019. 
Attest: 
CHERYL L. JOHNSON, 
Clerk. 
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Calendar No. 48 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 297 
AN ACT 
To extend the Federal recognition to the Little 
Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana, and 
for other purposes. 
MARCH 28, 2019 
Read the second time and placed on the calendar 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:54 Mar 28, 2019
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PO 00000
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