Catawba Indian Nation Lands Act
Bill: H.R.1619 | Sponsor: Rep. Clyburn, James E. (D-SC)
Policy area: Native Americans

Summary:
Catawba Indian Nation Lands Act
This bill ratifies and confirms the actions of the Department of the Interior to take into trust approximately 17 acres of land in Cleveland County, North Carolina, for the benefit of the Catawba Indian Nation. The land is made part of the Catawba Reservation.
The bill allows gaming on the land taken into trust for the tribe.

To clarify the status of gaming conducted by the Catawba Indian Nation, 
                        and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Catawba Indian Nation Lands Act''.

SEC. 2. APPLICATION OF CURRENT LAW.

    (a) Lands in South Carolina.--Section 14 of the Catawba Indian 
Tribe of South Carolina Claims Settlement Act of 1993 (Public Law 103-
116) shall only apply to gaming conducted by the Catawba Indian Nation 
on lands located in South Carolina.
    (b) Lands in States Other Than South Carolina.--Gaming conducted by 
the Catawba Indian Nation on lands located in States other than South 
Carolina shall be subject to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 
U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) and sections 1166 through 1168 of title 18, United 
States Code.

SEC. 3. REAFFIRMATION OF STATUS AND ACTIONS.

    (a) Ratification of Trust Status.--The action taken by the 
Secretary on July 10, 2020, to place approximately 17 acres of land 
located in Cleveland County, North Carolina, into trust for the benefit 
of the Catawba Indian Nation is hereby ratified and confirmed as if 
that action had been taken under a Federal law specifically authorizing 
or directing that action.
    (b) Administration.--The land placed into trust for the benefit of 
the Catawba Indian Nation by the Secretary on July 10, 2020, shall--
            (1) be a part of the Catawba Reservation and administered 
        in accordance with the laws and regulations generally 
        applicable to land held in trust by the United States for an 
        Indian Tribe; and
            (2) be deemed to have been acquired and taken into trust as 
        part of the restoration of lands for an Indian tribe that is 
        restored to Federal recognition pursuant to section 
        20(b)(1)(B)(iii) of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 
        2719(b)(1)(B)(iii)).
    (c) Rules of Construction.--Nothing in this Act shall--
            (1) enlarge, impair, or otherwise affect any right or claim 
        of the Catawba Indian Nation to any land or interest in land in 
        existence before the date of the enactment of this Act;
            (2) affect any water right of the Catawba Indian Nation in 
        existence before the date of the enactment of this Act;
            (3) terminate or limit any access in any way to any right-
        of-way or right-of-use issued, granted, or permitted before the 
        date of the enactment of this Act; or
            (4) alter or diminish the right of the Catawba Indian 
        Nation to seek to have additional land taken into trust by the 
        United States for the benefit of the Catawba Indian Nation.

            Passed the House of Representatives November 1, 2021.

            Attest:

                                             CHERYL L. JOHNSON,

                                                                 Clerk.