Bill Summary
This legislation, known as the "Illinois Indian Land Disputes Settlement Act," aims to resolve land disputes between the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and the United States government. It grants the United States Court of Federal Claims jurisdiction to hear and rule on land claims of the Miami Tribe under the Treaty of Grouseland, without any time limitations or delay-based defenses. However, this jurisdiction will expire within one year unless the Miami Tribe files a land claim. This legislation also extinguishes all other current and future land claims by the Miami Tribe or its members in the state of Illinois, except for those filed under this act.
Possible Impacts
1. The legislation could affect members of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma who have unresolved land claims in Illinois, as it grants them the opportunity to file a claim and potentially receive a settlement.
2. The legislation could affect individuals or groups who have claims to land in Illinois that is currently occupied by members of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, as it extinguishes any future claims and grants the tribe ownership.
3. The legislation could affect the United States Court of Federal Claims, as it confers jurisdiction to hear and determine land claims of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, potentially leading to an increase in workload and resources needed to process these claims.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2827 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2827
To provide for the equitable settlement of certain Indian land disputes
regarding land in Illinois, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 10, 2025
Mr. Cole (for himself, Ms. McCollum, and Mr. Bost) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural
Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for the equitable settlement of certain Indian land disputes
regarding land in Illinois, 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. SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS.
(a) Jurisdiction Conferred on the United States Court of Federal
Claims.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the United States Court of Federal Claims shall have
jurisdiction to hear, determine, and render judgment on a land
claim of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma under its Treaty with the
United States of America signed at Grouseland August 21, 1805
(7 Stat. 91) (commonly known as the ``Treaty of Grouseland''),
without regard to the statute of limitations, including section
2501 of title 28, United States Code, and any delay-based
defense, no matter how characterized.
(2) Jurisdiction expiration.--Not later than 1 year after
the date of enactment of this Act, the jurisdiction conferred
to the United States Court of Federal Claims under paragraph
(1) shall expire unless the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma files a
land claim under that paragraph.
(b) Extinguishment of Title and Claims.--Except for a claim filed
under subsection (a)(1), all other claims, including any and all future
claims, of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, or any member, descendant, or
predecessor in interest to the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, to land in the
State of Illinois are extinguished.
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