S. 622

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

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.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES · February 18, 2025 · Sponsor: Ms. Smith · Committee: Committee on Indian Affairs

Table of contents

• S. 622
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Transfer of additional Federal land to the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe

SEC. 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 (; 134 Stat. 1140) is amended by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following: Public Law 116–255
    • 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 (; 134 Stat. 1139) is amended— Public Law 116–255
    • in subsection (b)(1)—
      • in subparagraph (A)—
        • (i) by striking 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.
      • 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);
    • in subsection (c)—
      • in paragraph (1), by striking paragraph (2)and inserting paragraphs (2) and (3);
      • by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and
        • (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.
      • by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
    • in subsection (d)—
      • in paragraph (1)—
        • (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting after ; and
        • (ii) in subparagraph (B), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking submit a map and legal description of the Federal landand inserting submit maps and legal descriptions of the Federal land transferred pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (c), as applicable,;
      • in paragraph (2)—
        • (i) by striking map and legal descriptionand inserting maps and legal descriptions; and
        • (ii) by striking map or legal descriptionand inserting maps or legal descriptions; and
      • in paragraph (3), by striking map and legal descriptionand 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 (; 134 Stat. 1139) and the amendments made to that Act by this section. Public Law 116–255
• (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).