Today, the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs held a legislative hearing on four bills that will transfer lands into trust for tribal nations and support tribal sovereignty. Subcommittee Chairman Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.) issued the following statement in response:

"These pieces of legislation will transfer lands into trust for our tribal nations and support tribal sovereignty across our nation. We continue our promise to promote our native communities' self-determination and the right to ownership of their lands."

Background

H.R. 1451, the Quapaw Tribal Settlement Act of 2025, introduced by U.S. Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-Okla.), establishes a Special Deposit Account in the Bureau of Trust Funds Administration, known as the “Quapaw Bear Settlement Trust Account,” through which the $137.5 million settlement between the federal government and the Quapaw nation will be paid to Quapaw tribal member claimants.

H.R. 2302, the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians Land Transfer Act of 2025, introduced by U.S. Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), places approximately 85 acres of Bureau of Land Management land and 118 acres of fee simple land owned by the tribe into trust for the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians.

H.R. 2400, the Pit River Land Transfer Act of 2025, introduced by U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), places approximately 584 acres of land owned by the United States Forest Service (USFS), known as the “Four Corners,” and 40 acres of fee land into trust for the Pit River Tribe.

H.R. 2389, the Quinault Indian Nation Land Transfer Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Emily Randall (D-Wash.), places approximately 72 acres of USFS land into trust for the Quinault Indian Nation.

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