What This Bill Does
This bill amends the Grand Ronde Reservation Act, which is a previous law about tribal lands. The bill changes how certain lands are described and adds rules about gaming on tribal properties obtained through land settlements.
Who It Affects
The Grand Ronde Tribes and other federally recognized Indian tribes.
Key Provisions
• The description of lands covered by the Grand Ronde Reservation Act is changed from "lands within the State of Oregon" to "the 84 acres known as the Thompson Strip." (Sec. 1)
• Real property (land and buildings) obtained by tribes as part of a land claim settlement approved by the United States cannot be used for class II gaming or class III gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (a federal law that regulates tribal gaming). This includes property purchased with money granted as part of a land settlement. (Sec. 1)
• Nothing in this bill changes, expands or affects any existing treaty rights of federally recognized Indian tribes. (Sec. 2)
What Changes
The specific land area referenced in the original law is now identified as "the 84 acres known as the Thompson Strip" instead of broader language. Tribes cannot use settled land claim properties for gaming activities.
Important Definitions
Class II gaming and class III gaming are gaming activities defined in section 4 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The bill does not define these terms itself.
II
Calendar No. 251
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. 910
[Report No. 118–113]
To amend the Grand Ronde Reservation Act, and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
MARCH 22, 2023
Mr. MERKLEY (for himself and Mr. WYDEN) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs
NOVEMBER 27, 2023
Reported by Mr. SCHATZ, without amendment
A BILL
To amend the Grand Ronde Reservation Act, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. GRAND RONDE RESERVATION ACT AMEND-
3
MENTS.
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Section 1(d) of Public Law 100–425 (commonly
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known as the ‘‘Grand Ronde Reservation Act’’) (102 Stat.
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1594; 108 Stat. 4566) is amended—
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•S 910 RS
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘lands within
1
the State of Oregon’’ and inserting ‘‘the 84 acres
2
known as the Thompson Strip’’;
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(2) by redesignating paragraph (2) as para-
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graph (3); and
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(3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
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lowing:
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‘‘(2) GAMING PROHIBITION.—Any real property
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obtained by the Tribes as part of a land claim settle-
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ment approved by the United States, including any
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real property purchased with funds granted as part
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of any land claim settlement, shall not be eligible, or
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used, for any class II gaming or class III gaming
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under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C.
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2701 et seq.) (as those terms are defined in section
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4 of that Act (25 U.S.C. 2703)).’’.
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SEC. 2. TREATY RIGHTS OF FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED
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TRIBES.
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Nothing in this Act, or an amendment made by this
19
Act, shall be construed to enlarge, confirm, adjudicate, af-
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fect, or modify any treaty right of an Indian Tribe (as
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defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and
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Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)).
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Calendar No. 251
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. 910
[Report No. 118–113]
A BILL
To amend the Grand Ronde Reservation Act, and
for other purposes.
NOVEMBER 27, 2023
Reported without amendment
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