To authorize, ratify, and confirm the Agreement of Settlement and Compromise to Resolve the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim in the State of New York, and for other purposes.

H.R. 2916 would authorize and ratify a settlement agreement to resolve a historical land dispute involving the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe (SRMT) and the Akwesasne Mohawk territory in northern New York. The bill would formalize an agreement negotiated among the SRMT, the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, New York State, local counties and towns, and the New York Power Authority.

Under the settlement, the bill would restore land rights and provide land access to the SRMT. It would also establish tuition assistance for tribal members attending certain postsecondary institutions and require the New York Power Authority to make annual payments to the tribe. Additionally, the bill would recognize land owned or acquired by SRMT within designated settlement areas as Indian country, which affects criminal jurisdiction and tribal sovereignty over those lands.

The bill would also authorize and ratify any land transfers, rights-of-way, or easements that are subjects of specified court cases related to the claim. This comprehensive approach aims to resolve multiple legal disputes and provide both tangible resources and formal recognition of tribal land rights. The bill passed the House and is currently under review by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.