Mashantucket Pequot Indian Claims Settlement Act

Summary

Mashantucket Pequot Indian Claims Settlement Act - Establishes in the Treasury the Connecticut Indian Claims Settlement Fund as compensation to the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe for the extinguishment of any claim to specified lands. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) hold the Fund in trust for the Tribe; and (2) spend, at the request of the Tribe, the principal and income of the Fund to acquire land or natural resources for the Tribe or for similar purposes which promote the economic development of the Tribe. Provides that land or natural resources which are within specified settlement lands shall be held in trust by the United States. Provides that land or natural resources which are located outside such settlement land shall be held in fee by the Tribe, with the United States having no further responsibility, and shall not be subject to any restriction against alienation under Federal or State law. Provides that transfers of specified private settlement lands shall be deemend to be involuntary conversions for Internal Revenue Code purposes. Authorizes the appropriation of $900,000 to be deposited in the Fund. Sets forth provisions for approval of prior transfers of specified lands or natural resources and for the extinguishment of the Tribe's (or any other Indian) aboriginal title or claims to such lands or natural resources. Directs the Secretary to publish notice in the Federal Register of the deposit of the appropriation to the Fund. Makes the date of such deposit the effective date of such extinguishment provisions. Declares the Tribe's reservation and the settlement lands to be Indian country, subject to State jurisdiction to the maximum extent provided in specified Federal law. Sets limitations on actions questioning the constitutionality of this Act. Vests exclusive original jurisdiction of such actions in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. Permits defendants to remove such actions from State courts to such U.S. District Court. Subjects lands within the reservation and the settlement lands to Federal law relating to Indian lands, but permits the Tribe to lease lands for any term of years to the Mashantucket Pequot Housing Authority or to any successor in interest to such Authority. Extends Federal recognition to the Tribe. Provides that all Federal laws and regulations of general application to Indians or Indian nations, tribes, or bands of Indians which are not inconsistent with any specific provision of this Act shall be applicable to the Tribe. Makes the Tribe and members of the Tribe eligible for all Federal services and benefits furnished to federally recognized Indians.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 1 July 1982

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 1 July 1982

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 14 July 1982

   Committee

   Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.

   Source: Committee

4. 18 August 1982

   Reported

   Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

   Source: Committee

5. 29 September 1982

   Calendars

   Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Regular Orders. Calendar No. 876.

   Source: Calendars

6. 29 September 1982

   Reported

   Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported to Senate by Senator Cohen with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 97-596.

   Source: Committee

7. 29 September 1982

   Reported

   Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported to Senate by Senator Cohen with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 97-596.

   Source: Committee

8. 17 December 1982

   Floor

   Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Unanimous Consent.

   Source: Floor

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

3 official files

• Indefinitely postponed in Senate

  summary · EN · 17 December 1982

  Open at official source

• Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 29 September 1982

  Open at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 1 July 1982

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Rep. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT-2] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Weicker, Lowell P., Jr. [R-CT] · R · Sponsor
• · slia00 · Other

Related records

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