Last progress April 29, 2025 (7 months ago)
Introduced on April 29, 2025 by Maria E. Cantwell
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
This bill would place about 1,082 acres of specific federal land in Washington into trust for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, making it part of the tribe’s reservation. This helps the tribe manage and protect lands tied to the Elwha River and their community. Some river areas on the land would be managed like a Wild and Scenic River to protect the ecosystem, consistent with earlier Elwha restoration law. The bill says the U.S. will survey the land boundaries and can make small boundary fixes, and it skips extra appraisal steps that can slow transfers. It does not change any existing treaty rights.
The bill also bars casinos or other gaming on these lands once transferred.
| Key point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Who is affected | Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe; people living near the Elwha River area in Washington |
| What changes | About 1,082.63 acres are taken into trust and added to the reservation; certain river areas get special protection; no gaming allowed on these lands |
| Where | Specified parcels tied to the Elwha River/Olympic area in Washington |
| When | Takes effect upon enactment; a land survey and minor boundary adjustments follow “as soon as practicable” |
Overall, this is about restoring and protecting tribal lands along the Elwha, supporting cultural and environmental goals while keeping existing treaty rights in place.