Gary Peters (D-MI)
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act of 2025
A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Held at the desk.
Passed one chamber, waiting for the other to take it up
Passed one chamber, and the other has not yet sent it to a committee or put it on its calendar.
The other chamber will hand it to a committee, place it on its calendar, or leave it where it is. Nothing has been decided, and a bill can sit here indefinitely.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed Senate unanimous consent
- Awaiting House
The Senate by unanimous consent (no one objected, so there was no vote): no senator's position on it was recorded.
What this bill would do
This Act provides compensation to the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community for land taken without just compensation within the L'Anse Indian Reservation. The land involved includes the Reservation Swamp Lands and the Reservation Canal Lands. The bill acknowledges that the United States deprived the Community of the exclusive use and occupancy of these lands. To settle these claims, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to transfer $33,900,000 to the Community. This settlement is intended to provide justice for the Community and secure clear title for current landowners.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +8
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill provides $33,900,000 in compensation to the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community for historical land takings.
- Scored +5
Is this likely to grow the economy?
The bill provides $33,900,000 for economic development and governmental services for the Community.
- Scored +4
Is this likely to lift people out of poverty?
The infusion of $33,900,000 can be used by the Community for economic development and social services.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Financial Compensation for the Community: The Act authorizes a transfer of $33,900,000 to the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community to address the uncompensated taking of lands (Section 5(a)).
-
Economic and Social Benefits for the Community: The Community may use the received funds for various lawful purposes, including governmental services, economic development, natural resources protection, and land acquisition (Section 5(b)(1)).
-
Title Security for Local Landowners: The bill aims to secure a fair settlement and ensure protection of ownership for non-Indian occupants by relieving clouds on their titles (Section 2(21)(B) and Section 3(3)).
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Resolution of Legal Disputes: The settlement allows local landowners to obtain clear title without the need for long, costly, and protracted litigation (Section 2(22)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Restrictions on Fund Usage: The Community is prohibited from using the received funds to acquire land for gaming purposes (Section 5(b)(2)).
-
Restrictions on Land Use: The Act specifies that the Secretary is not authorized to take land into trust for the benefit of the Community for gaming purposes, and the Community cannot use land acquired with these funds for gaming purposes (Section 7).
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Extinguishment of Community Rights: Upon receiving payment, all claims held by the Community to the specified lands are extinguished (Section 6(a)).
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? — The bill provides $33,900,000 in compensation to the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community for historical land takings. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The funds provided to the Community can support governmental services and economic development. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill provides legal certainty and clear title to local landowners within the reservation boundaries.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill provides $33,900,000 for economic development and governmental services for the Community.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The infusion of $33,900,000 can be used by the Community for economic development and social services.
- 12/15/2025
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Held at the desk.
- Received in the House.
- 12/11/2025
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8688-8689; text: CR S8688-8689)
- 9/29/2025
- Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 119-70.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 175.
- 3/5/2025
- Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 2/19/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Elissa SlotkinDemocrat · Michigan