Introduced in Senate — S. 622

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 622

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 18, 2025

Ms. Smith (for herself and Ms. Klobuchar) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs

A BILL

To amend the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Reservation Restoration Act to provide for the transfer of additional Federal land to the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, and for other purposes.

Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Leech Lake Reservation Restoration Amendments Act of 2025.

Sec. 2. Transfer of additional Federal land to the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe

(a) Findings

Section 2(a)(5) of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Reservation Restoration Act (Public Law 116–255; 134 Stat. 1140) is amended by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:

(B)
does not intend immediately to modify the use of the Federal land.

(b) Inclusion of additional Federal land

Section 2 of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Reservation Restoration Act (Public Law 116–255; 134 Stat. 1139) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (b)(1)—

(A)

in subparagraph (A)—

(i)

by striking means the approximately and inserting “means—

(i)
the approximately;

(ii)

in clause (i) (as so designated), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(iii)

by adding at the end the following:

(ii)
any other land managed by the Secretary, through the Chief of the Forest Service, located in the Chippewa National Forest in Cass County, Minnesota, which records maintained by the Bureau of Indian Affairs show was sold without the unanimous consent of the rightful landowners.; and

(B)

in subparagraph (B)—

(i)

by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as clauses (ii) and (iii), respectively; and

(ii)

by inserting before clause (ii) (as so redesignated) the following:

(i)
any land transferred pursuant to an agreement entered into between the Secretary and the Tribe under subsection (c)(2);;

(2)

in subsection (c)—

(A)

in paragraph (1), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting paragraphs (2) and (3);

(B)

by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and

(C)

by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:

(2) Agreement
(A) In general
On agreement between the Secretary and the Tribe, the Secretary shall substitute, for purposes of the transfer under paragraph (1), alternative National Forest System land located in Cass County, Minnesota, on an acre-for-acre basis, for those parcels of Federal land to be transferred under that paragraph in a manner that avoids in-holdings and provides a preference for land adjacent to or near existing Leech Lake trust lands and lands of cultural importance to the Tribe, to the maximum extent practicable.
(B) Frequency of transfers
Pursuant to an agreement entered into under subparagraph (A), the Secretary may transfer land to the Secretary of the Interior on a rolling basis as that land is identified and surveys are completed.; and

(3)

in subsection (d)—

(A)

in paragraph (1)—

(i)

in subparagraph (A), by inserting described in subsection (b)(1)(A)(i) after Federal land; and

(ii)

in subparagraph (B), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking submit a map and legal description of the Federal land and inserting submit maps and legal descriptions of the Federal land transferred pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (c), as applicable,;

(B)

in paragraph (2)—

(i)

by striking map and legal description and inserting maps and legal descriptions; and

(ii)

by striking map or legal description and inserting maps or legal descriptions; and

(C)

in paragraph (3), by striking map and legal description and inserting maps and legal descriptions.

(c) Reaffirmation

Congress reaffirms the applicability of section 97A.151 of the Minnesota Statutes, including the settlement agreement ratified by that section, for purposes of ensuring that the hunting, fishing, and recreation rights of non-Tribal members remain unchanged by the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Reservation Restoration Act (Public Law 116–255; 134 Stat. 1139) and the amendments made to that Act by this section.

(d) Implementation

In implementing the amendments made by this section, the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall provide for public engagement and comment in accordance with applicable laws (including regulations).