Western Shoshone Claims Distribution Act

Bill: 108-s-618
Sponsor: Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]
Introduced: 2003-03-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Department of the Interior
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Finance and Financial Sector
Financial statements
Government Operations and Politics
Government trust funds
Higher education
Indian claims
Indian education
Indian lands
Law
Minorities
Nevada
Scholarships

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-13
text: Western Shoshone Claims Distribution Act - Provides for the per capita distribution of specified funds appropriated in satisfaction of a judgment award granted to the Western Shoshone Indians in Docket Number 326-K before the Indian Claims Commission to U.S. citizens who have at least 1/4 Western Shoshone blood and who are enrolled on a Western Shoshone Judgment Roll to be established by the Secretary of the Interior.
Requires specified funds appropriated in satisfaction of the judgment awards granted to such Indians in Docket Numbers 326-A-1 and 326-A-3 before the U.S. Court of Claims be credited to and distributed (on a non-per capita basis) from a Western Shoshone Educational Trust Fund to be established by the Secretary: (1) for educational grants and other forms of educational assistance to individual Western Shoshone members; and (2) to pay reasonable and necessary expenses of an Administrative Committee established by this Act to oversee the distribution of such grants and assistance.
action_date: 2003-09-22
text: 
Western Shoshone Claims Distribution Act - (Sec. 3) Provides for the per capita distribution of shares of specified funds appropriated in satisfaction of a judgment award granted to the Western Shoshone Indians in Docket Number 326-K before the Indian Claims Commission (ICC) to U.S. citizens who have at least 1/4 Western Shoshone blood and who are enrolled on a Western Shoshone judgment roll to be established by the Secretary of the Interior.
 
Requires the Secretary to establish a Western Shoshone judgement roll consisting of all individuals who have at least 1/4 degree of Western Shoshone Blood, are U.S. citizens, and are living on the date of enactment of this Act. 
Makes ineligible for enrollment under this Act any individual who is eligible to receive other judgment awards based on an aboriginal land claim from the ICC, the United States Claims Court, or the United States Court of Claims. 
Requires the Secretary to publish regulations governing the establishment of the judgment roll and specifies per capita distribution requirements (including those for incompetents, heirs of deceased beneficiaries, and individuals under age 19). 
(Sec. 4) Provides for distribution of specified funds appropriated in satisfaction of the judgment awards granted in Docket Numbers 326-A-1 and 326-A-3 before the U.S. Court of Claims. 
Requires the Secretary to establish, for the benefit of Western Shoshone members, the Western Shoshone Educational Trust Fund, to which such funds shall be credited. 
Requires that all interest income earned on the principal amount in the Trust Fund be distributed: (1) as educational grants and assistance to Western Shoshone members as determined appropriate by the administrative committee established by this Act to oversee such distribution; and (2) to pay reasonable and necessary expenses of such committee. 
Specifies the membership and duties of the committee.
action_date: 2003-10-17
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on September 22, 2003. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Western Shoshone Claims Distribution Act - (Sec. 3) Provides for the per capita distribution of shares of specified funds appropriated in satisfaction of a judgment award granted to the Western Shoshone Indians in Docket Number 326-K before the Indian Claims Commission (ICC) to U.S. citizens who have at least 1/4 Western Shoshone blood and who are enrolled on a Western Shoshone judgment roll to be established by the Secretary of the Interior.
 
Requires the Secretary to establish a Western Shoshone judgement roll consisting of all individuals who have at least 1/4 degree of Western Shoshone Blood, are U.S. citizens, and are living on the date of enactment of this Act. 
Makes ineligible for enrollment under this Act any individual who is eligible to receive other judgment awards based on an aboriginal land claim from the ICC, the United States Claims Court, or the United States Court of Claims. 
Requires the Secretary to publish regulations governing the establishment of the judgment roll and specifies per capita distribution requirements (including those for incompetents, heirs of deceased beneficiaries, and individuals under age 19). 
(Sec. 4) Provides for distribution of specified funds appropriated in satisfaction of the judgment awards granted in Docket Numbers 326-A-1 and 326-A-3 before the U.S. Court of Claims. 
Requires the Secretary to establish, for the benefit of Western Shoshone members, the Western Shoshone Educational Trust Fund, to which such funds shall be credited. 
Requires that all interest income earned on the principal amount in the Trust Fund be distributed: (1) as educational grants and assistance to Western Shoshone members as determined appropriate by the administrative committee established by this Act to oversee such distribution; and (2) to pay reasonable and necessary expenses of such committee. 
Specifies the membership and duties of the committee.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-10-17
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2003-10-17
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2003-10-17
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2003-10-17
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S12756-12759; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S12756-12759)
action_date: 2003-10-17
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S12756-12759; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S12756-12759)
action_date: 2003-09-22
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 285.
action_date: 2003-09-22
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Campbell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 108-151.
action_date: 2003-09-22
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Campbell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 108-151.
action_date: 2003-07-16
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2003-03-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3735-3737)
action_date: 2003-03-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3735)
action_date: 2003-03-13
text: Introduced in Senate