Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act
A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 554.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act. It directs the federal government to take approximately 1,082.63 acres of federal land in Washington into trust for the benefit of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. This land will become part of the tribe's reservation. The legislation specifies that this land is not subject to any valuation, appraisal, or equalization requirements under federal law. Additionally, the bill prohibits gaming on the land taken into trust under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Finally, the bill ensures that existing treaty rights under the Treaty of Point No Point are not affected.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +10
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
Directly restores over 1,000 acres of land to the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe.
- Scored +7
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?
Restores federal land to a Native American tribe, supporting tribal sovereignty and land rights.
- Scored +5
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?
Transfers specific federal parcels to trust status for tribal benefit.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Benefit to the Tribe: Under Section 2(b)(1), approximately 1,082.63 acres of federal land are taken into trust for the benefit of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, which places the land into their reservation as outlined in Section 2(b)(2). This is a positive outcome for the tribe as it restores land to them.
-
Protection of Treaty Rights: Under Section 3, it is explicitly stated that nothing in the Act affects treaty rights under the Treaty of Point No Point. This ensures that the historic rights of the tribal members are legally protected and remain untouched by this legislation.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Prohibition of Gaming: Under Section 2(e), no land taken into trust for the tribe under this section can be considered Indian lands for the purpose of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. This places a specific restriction on how the tribe can utilize the land for economic development related to gaming.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Directly restores over 1,000 acres of land to the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — Transfers specific federal parcels to trust status for tribal benefit. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — Ensures the Elwha River portion is managed according to the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — Restores federal land to a Native American tribe, supporting tribal sovereignty and land rights.
- 9/14/2026
- Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Armstrong for Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 119-135.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 554.
- 5/20/2026
- Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 12/17/2025
- Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.
- 4/29/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
3 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Patty MurrayDemocrat · Washington