Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-691
Sponsor: Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
Introduced: 2017-03-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Federal-Indian relations
Gambling
Indian lands and resources rights
Indian social and development programs
Land transfers
Property rights
Virginia

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: 

Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2017

 
 This bill extends federal recognition to the following Indian tribes of Virginia and establishes their relationship with the federal government:
 
 
the Chickahominy Tribe;
 
the Chickahominy Indian Tribe--Eastern Division;
 
the Upper Mattaponi Tribe;
 
the Rappahannock Tribe, Inc.;
 
the Monacan Indian Nation; and
 
the Nansemond Indian Tribe.
 
 
The tribes and their members are made eligible for all services and benefits provided by the federal government to federally recognized Indian tribes. The bill establishes the service area of each tribe and requirements for each tribe regarding its membership roll and governance.
 
Upon the request of a tribe, the Department of the Interior must take specified lands into trust for the benefit of the tribe, to be considered part of the tribe's reservation.

The tribes may not conduct gaming activities.
 
Eminent domain may not be used to acquire lands for tribes recognized under this bill.

action_date: 2017-06-28
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 

Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2017

 
TITLE I--CHICKAHOMINY INDIAN TRIBE
 
(Sec. 103) This bill extends federal recognition to the Chickahominy Tribe. The tribe and its members are made eligible for the services and benefits provided by the federal government to federally recognized Indian tribes, without regard to the existence of a reservation for the tribe. The bill establishes the service area of the tribe.
 
(Sec. 104) The bill sets forth requirements for the tribe regarding its membership roll, governing documents, and governing body.
 
(Sec. 106) The Department of the Interior, upon the request of the tribe, must take certain land owned by the tribe in Virginia into trust for the benefit of the tribe, to be considered part of the tribe's reservation.
 
The bill prohibits the tribe from conducting gaming activities.
 
(Sec. 107) The bill does not affect the hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, or water rights of the tribe or its members.
 
TITLE II--CHICKAHOMINY INDIAN TRIBE--EASTERN DIVISION
 
(Sec. 203) This bill extends federal recognition to the Chickahominy Indian Tribe--Eastern Division. The tribe and its members are made eligible for the services and benefits provided by the federal government to federally recognized tribes, without regard to the existence of a reservation for the tribe. The bill establishes the service area of the tribe.
 
(Sec. 204) The bill sets forth requirements for the tribe regarding its membership roll, governing documents, and governing body.
 
(Sec. 206) The Department of the Interior, upon the request of the tribe, must take certain land owned by the tribe in Virginia into trust for the benefit of the tribe, to be considered part of the tribe's reservation.
 
The bill prohibits the tribe from conducting gaming activities.
 
(Sec. 207) The bill does not affect the hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, or water rights of the tribe or its members.
 
TITLE III--UPPER MATTAPONI TRIBE
 
(Sec. 303) This bill extends federal recognition to the Upper Mattaponi Tribe. The tribe and its members are made eligible for the services and benefits provided by the federal government to federally recognized tribes, without regard to the existence of a reservation for the tribe. The bill establishes the service area of the tribe.
 
(Sec. 304) The bill sets forth requirements for the tribe regarding its membership roll, governing documents, and governing body.
 
(Sec. 306) The Department of the Interior, upon the request of the tribe, must take certain land owned by the tribe in Virginia into trust for the benefit of the tribe, to be considered part of the tribe's reservation.
 
The bill prohibits the tribe from conducting gaming activities.
 
(Sec. 307) The bill does not affect the hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, or water rights of the tribe or its members.
 
TITLE IV--RAPPAHANNOCK TRIBE, INC.
 
(Sec. 403) This bill extends federal recognition to the Rappahannock Tribe, Inc. The tribe and its members are made eligible for the services and benefits provided by the federal government to federally recognized tribes, without regard to the existence of a reservation for the tribe. The bill establishes the service area of the tribe.
 
(Sec. 404) The bill sets forth requirements for the tribe regarding its membership roll, governing documents, and governing body.
 
(Sec. 406) The Department of the Interior, upon the request of the tribe, must take certain land owned by the tribe in Virginia into trust for the benefit of the tribe, to be considered part of the tribe's reservation.
 
The bill prohibits the tribe from conducting gaming activities.
 
(Sec. 407) The bill does not affect the hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, or water rights of the tribe or its members.
 
TITLE V--MONACAN INDIAN NATION
 
(Sec. 503) This bill extends federal recognition to the Monacan Indian Nation. The tribe and its members are made eligible for the services and benefits provided by the federal government to federally recognized tribes, without regard to the existence of a reservation for the tribe. The bill establishes the service area of the tribe.
 
(Sec. 504) The bill sets forth requirements for the tribe regarding its membership roll, governing documents, and governing body.
 
(Sec. 506) The Department of the Interior, upon the request of the tribe, must take certain land owned by the tribe in Virginia into trust for the benefit of the tribe, to be considered part of the tribe's reservation.
 
The bill prohibits the tribe from conducting gaming activities.
 
(Sec. 507) The bill does not affect the hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, or water rights of the tribe or its members.
 
TITLE VI--NANSEMOND INDIAN TRIBE
 
(Sec. 603) This bill extends federal recognition to the Nansemond Indian Tribe. The tribe and its members are made eligible for the services and benefits provided by the federal government to federally recognized tribes, without regard to the existence of a reservation for the tribe. The bill establishes the service area of the tribe.
 
(Sec. 604) The bill sets forth requirements for the tribe regarding its membership roll, governing documents, and governing body.
 
(Sec. 606) The Department of the Interior, upon the request of the tribe, must take certain land owned by the tribe in Virginia into trust for the benefit of the tribe, to be considered part of the tribe's reservation.
 
The bill prohibits the tribe from conducting gaming activities.
 
(Sec. 607) The bill does not affect the hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, or water rights of the tribe or its members.
 
TITLE VII--EMINENT DOMAIN
 
(Sec. 701) Eminent domain may not be used to acquire lands for a tribe recognized under this bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-28
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 161.
action_date: 2017-06-28
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Hoeven without amendment. With written report No. 115-123.
action_date: 2017-06-28
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Hoeven without amendment. With written report No. 115-123.
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks: CR S1893)
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Introduced in Senate