[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7541 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7541
To extend Federal recognition to the United Houma Nation, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 5, 2024
Mr. Higgins of Louisiana introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To extend Federal recognition to the United Houma 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 ``United Houma Recognition Act of
2024''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Interim tribal government.--The term ``interim Tribal
Government'' means the Board of Directors of the United Houma
Nation, Inc.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(3) Tribal constitution.--The term ``Tribal constitution''
means the Tribal constitution adopted pursuant to section 4.
(4) Tribal member.--The term ``Tribal member'' means--
(A) an individual who is an enrolled member of the
Tribe as of the date of the enactment of this Act; and
(B) an individual who is placed on the membership
rolls of the Tribe in accordance with this Act.
(5) Tribe.--The term ``Tribe'' means the United Houma
Nation.
SEC. 3. FEDERAL RECOGNITION.
(a) In General.--Federal recognition is extended to the Tribe.
(b) Applicability of Laws.--All laws (including regulations) of the
United States of general applicability to Indians or nations, Indian
Tribes, or bands of Indians (including the Act of June 18, 1934 (25
U.S.C. 5101 et seq.)) that are not inconsistent with this Act shall be
applicable to the Tribe and Tribal members.
(c) Federal Services and Benefits.--
(1) In general.--The Tribe and Tribal members shall be
eligible for all services and benefits provided by the Federal
Government to federally recognized Indian Tribes without regard
to the existence of a reservation for the Tribe.
(2) Service area.--For purposes of delivery of services and
benefits to Tribal members, the service area of the Tribe shall
be considered to be the following parishes in the State of
Louisiana:
(A) St. Mary.
(B) Terrebonne.
(C) Lafourche.
(D) Jefferson.
(E) Plaquemines.
(F) St. Bernard.
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP ROLL.
(a) Initial Roll.--As a condition of receiving recognition,
services, and benefits pursuant to this Act, the Tribe shall submit to
the Secretary, by not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment
of this Act, an membership roll consisting of the name of each
individual enrolled as a Tribal member.
(b) Determination of Membership.--
(1) Initial roll.--The qualifications for inclusion on the
membership roll submitted under subsection (a) shall be
determined by the interim Tribal Government in consultation
with the Secretary.
(2) Subsequent membership.--Upon adoption under section 4,
the Tribal constitution shall govern membership in the Tribe.
(c) Maintenance of Roll.--The Tribe shall maintain the membership
roll.
SEC. 5. TRIBAL CONSTITUTION.
(a) In General.--Not later than 6 months after the initial
membership roll is submitted to the Secretary pursuant to section 3(a),
the Secretary shall conduct, by secret ballot, an election for the
purpose of adopting a constitution for the Tribe in accordance with the
procedures applicable to elections under section 16 of the Act of June
18, 1934 (25 U.S.C. 5123).
(b) Notice.--The Secretary shall provide at least 60 days notice to
Tribal members with respect to the date of the election held under
subsection (a).
(c) Absentee Ballots.--Absentee voting shall be permitted with
respect to the election under subsection (a) regardless of voter
residence.
SEC. 6. GOVERNING BODY.
(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), the
governing body of the Tribe shall be elected in accordance with the
election procedures specified in the Tribal constitution.
(b) Interim Government.--Until a governing body is elected and
takes office in accordance with election procedures specified in the
Tribal constitution adopted under section 5, the interim Tribal
Government shall be the governing body of the Tribe.
SEC. 7. RESERVATION OF THE TRIBE.
(a) In General.--Upon the request of the Tribe, the Secretary shall
take into trust for the benefit of the Tribe any lands held in fee by
the Tribe within the service area described in section 3(c)(2).
(b) Reservation Status.--Any land taken into trust for the benefit
of the Tribe pursuant to this section shall, upon the request of the
Tribe, be considered part of the reservation of the Tribe.
(c) Gaming.--The Tribe may not conduct gaming activities as a
matter of claimed inherent authority or under the authority of any
Federal law, including the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701
et seq.) or under any regulations thereunder promulgated by the
Secretary or the National Indian Gaming Commission.
SEC. 8. REAFFIRMATION OF RIGHTS.
(a) In General.--Nothing in this Act diminishes any right or
privilege of the Tribe or any Tribal member that existed before the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(b) Claims of Tribe.--Except as otherwise provided in this Act,
nothing in this Act alters or affects any legal or equitable claim of
the Tribe to enforce any right or privilege reserved by, or granted to,
the Tribe that was wrongfully denied to, or taken from, the Tribe
before the date of the enactment of this Act.
(c) Hunting and Fishing Rights.--Nothing in this Act expands,
reduces, or affects in any manner any hunting, fishing, trapping,
gathering, or water rights of the Tribe and Tribal members.
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