I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 396 
To provide for the equitable settlement of certain Indian land disputes 
regarding land in Illinois, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 9, 2019 
Mr. MULLIN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To provide for the equitable settlement of certain Indian 
land disputes regarding land in Illinois, 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. SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following: 
(1) The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma has chal-
lenged title of certain lands within the State of Illi-
nois based upon treaties negotiated with the United 
States. 
(2) The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma claims to be 
the rightful owner of approximately 2,648,420 acres 
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of land reserved and guaranteed to it by the Federal 
Government in the Treaty of August 1, 1805 (7 
Stat. 91), known as the Treaty of Grouseland. 
(3) The land reserved and guaranteed to the 
Miami Tribe of Oklahoma by the Treaty of 
Grouseland is located in the State of Illinois and 
persons and entities other than the Miami Tribe of 
Oklahoma currently hold title to that land. 
(4) Congress desires to remove any cloud on 
title resulting from the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma’s 
claim to the land under the Treaty of Grouseland 
and to afford the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma the op-
portunity to resolve its claims arising from the Trea-
ty of Grouseland. 
(b) JURISDICTION CONFERRED
ON
THE UNITED 
STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS.—Notwithstanding 
any other provision of law, exclusive jurisdiction is hereby 
conferred upon the United States Court of Federal Claims 
to hear, determine, and render judgment on the Miami 
Tribe of Oklahoma’s land claim under the Treaty of Au-
gust 1, 1805 (7 Stat. 91), without regard to legal or equi-
table defenses based on the passage of time, including the 
statute of limitations identified in section 2501 of title 28, 
United States Code, and any delay-based defense, includ-
ing laches, estoppel or acquiescence, no matter how char-
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acterized. The United States shall be the only entity or 
individual liable regarding such a claim and monetary 
damages shall be the only available remedy. The jurisdic-
tion hereby conferred on the United States Court of Fed-
eral Claims shall expire unless a claim is filed by the 
Miami Tribe of Oklahoma within 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act. 
(c) EXTINGUISHMENT OF TITLE AND CLAIMS.—Ex-
cept for the claim of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma against 
the United States as a defendant in an action before the 
United States Court of Federal Claims as provided in sub-
section (b), all other claims of the Miami Tribe of Okla-
homa, or any member, descendant, or predecessor in inter-
est to the Miami Tribe to title are extinguished, including 
claims arising under the Treaty of Grouseland, the North-
west Ordinance, the 5th amendment to the Constitution, 
the laws commonly known as the ‘‘Trade and Intercourse 
Act of 1790’’, and any other Federal law, treaty, or agree-
ment. 
Æ 
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