April 29, 2025
Ms. Cantwell (for herself and Mrs. Murray) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs
To take certain land in the State of Washington into trust for the benefit of the Quinault Indian Nation, 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. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Quinault Indian Nation Land Transfer Act
.
Sec. 2. Land taken into trust for the benefit of the Quinault Indian Nation
(a) In general
Subject to valid existing rights, the approximately 72 acres of land located in the State of Washington and generally depicted as Allotment 1157
on the map entitled Quinault Indian Nation Land Transfer Act
and dated February 2, 2024, shall be administratively transferred from the Forest Service to the Department of the Interior and taken into trust for the benefit of the Quinault Indian Nation.
(b) Land part of reservation; Administration
The land taken into trust under subsection (a) shall be—
(1)
part of the Quinault Indian Reservation; and
(2)
administered by the Secretary of the Interior in accordance with the laws and regulations generally applicable to property held in trust by the United States for an Indian Tribe.
(c) Gaming prohibited
The land taken into trust under subsection (a) shall not be eligible for gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.).
(d) No impact on treaty rights
Nothing in this Act affects treaty rights under the Treaty between the United States and the Qui-nai-elt and Quil-leh-ute Indians, done at the Qui-nai-elt River July 1, 1855, and Olympia January 25, 1856 (12 Stat. 971) (commonly known as the Treaty of Olympia
).
(e) Hazardous materials
For purposes of the taking of land into trust under subsection (a), the Secretary of the Interior—
(1)
shall meet disclosure requirements for hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants under section 120(h) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9620(h)); and
(2)
shall not otherwise be required to remediate or abate those hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants.