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Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act of 2025

USA119th CongressS-642| Senate 
| Updated: 12/15/2025
Gary C. Peters

Gary C. Peters

Democratic Senator

Michigan

Cosponsors (1)
Elissa Slotkin (Democratic)

Indian Affairs Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The bill establishes a settlement that pays $33,900,000 to the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community for the federal government’s taking of the Reservation Swamp Lands and Reservation Canal Lands inside the L'Anse Indian Reservation without just compensation. The payment is authorized for fiscal year 2026 and is intended to acknowledge the historic loss of land and to provide the Community with resources for development and stewardship. Upon receipt of the funds, the Community’s claims to the lands are extinguished and the title of all current owners is cleared of any preexisting rights held by the Community. The settlement also confirms that the Community may use the money for governmental services, economic development, natural‑resource protection, and land acquisition, but explicitly prohibits its use for gaming. This approach seeks to resolve long‑standing disputes through a restorative process rather than protracted litigation. In addition to the payment, the bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to take any necessary actions to carry out the settlement and to ensure that the Community does not acquire land for gaming purposes. The act clarifies that the settlement does not authorize the Secretary to place land into trust for gaming or the Community to use the settlement proceeds for gaming. It also provides that the settlement funds are available only until expended and that the Community may use the money for lawful purposes, excluding gaming. The legislation therefore balances the Community’s right to compensation with the protection of current landowners’ clear title. By extinguishing claims and preventing gaming, the bill aims to secure both justice for the Community and security for existing property interests.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-195
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act of 2023
Feb 19, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Feb 19, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
Mar 5, 2025
Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Jun 11, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-411
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Sep 29, 2025
Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 119-70.
Sep 29, 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 175.
Dec 11, 2025
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8688-8689; text: CR S8688-8689)
Dec 11, 2025
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Dec 15, 2025
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 15, 2025
Received in the House.
Dec 15, 2025
Held at the desk.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-195
    Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act of 2023


  • February 19, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 19, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.


  • March 5, 2025
    Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.


  • June 11, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-411
    Subcommittee Hearings Held


  • September 29, 2025
    Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 119-70.


  • September 29, 2025
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 175.


  • December 11, 2025
    Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8688-8689; text: CR S8688-8689)


  • December 11, 2025
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.


  • December 15, 2025
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • December 15, 2025
    Received in the House.


  • December 15, 2025
    Held at the desk.

Native Americans

Related Bills

  • HR 119-411: Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act of 2025
Federal-Indian relationsIndian claimsIndian lands and resources rightsLand transfersMichigan

Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act of 2025

USA119th CongressS-642| Senate 
| Updated: 12/15/2025
The bill establishes a settlement that pays $33,900,000 to the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community for the federal government’s taking of the Reservation Swamp Lands and Reservation Canal Lands inside the L'Anse Indian Reservation without just compensation. The payment is authorized for fiscal year 2026 and is intended to acknowledge the historic loss of land and to provide the Community with resources for development and stewardship. Upon receipt of the funds, the Community’s claims to the lands are extinguished and the title of all current owners is cleared of any preexisting rights held by the Community. The settlement also confirms that the Community may use the money for governmental services, economic development, natural‑resource protection, and land acquisition, but explicitly prohibits its use for gaming. This approach seeks to resolve long‑standing disputes through a restorative process rather than protracted litigation. In addition to the payment, the bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to take any necessary actions to carry out the settlement and to ensure that the Community does not acquire land for gaming purposes. The act clarifies that the settlement does not authorize the Secretary to place land into trust for gaming or the Community to use the settlement proceeds for gaming. It also provides that the settlement funds are available only until expended and that the Community may use the money for lawful purposes, excluding gaming. The legislation therefore balances the Community’s right to compensation with the protection of current landowners’ clear title. By extinguishing claims and preventing gaming, the bill aims to secure both justice for the Community and security for existing property interests.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-195
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act of 2023
Feb 19, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Feb 19, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
Mar 5, 2025
Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Jun 11, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-411
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Sep 29, 2025
Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 119-70.
Sep 29, 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 175.
Dec 11, 2025
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8688-8689; text: CR S8688-8689)
Dec 11, 2025
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Dec 15, 2025
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 15, 2025
Received in the House.
Dec 15, 2025
Held at the desk.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-195
    Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act of 2023


  • February 19, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 19, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.


  • March 5, 2025
    Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.


  • June 11, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-411
    Subcommittee Hearings Held


  • September 29, 2025
    Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 119-70.


  • September 29, 2025
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 175.


  • December 11, 2025
    Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8688-8689; text: CR S8688-8689)


  • December 11, 2025
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.


  • December 15, 2025
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • December 15, 2025
    Received in the House.


  • December 15, 2025
    Held at the desk.
Gary C. Peters

Gary C. Peters

Democratic Senator

Michigan

Cosponsors (1)
Elissa Slotkin (Democratic)

Indian Affairs Committee

Native Americans

Related Bills

  • HR 119-411: Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act of 2025
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Federal-Indian relationsIndian claimsIndian lands and resources rightsLand transfersMichigan