Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act of 2025
Summary
H.R. 411, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act of 2025, would authorize the Department of the Interior to provide financial compensation to the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) located in Baraga County, Michigan. The purpose of these funds would be to resolve longstanding land claims held by the KBIC and to clear title to disputed lands.
If enacted, the KBIC would have flexibility in how to use the settlement funds for lawful purposes, with one restriction: the funds cannot be used to acquire land for gaming operations. This bill is currently under committee consideration following subcommittee hearings held in June 2025 and has not yet been voted on by the full House of Representatives.
AI-generated summary
Lifecycle of the Bill
Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs.
Jun 4, 2025
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Jun 11, 2025
Jun 11, 2025 · 14:00
Legislative Hearing on: H.R. 411 (Rep. Bergman), “Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act of 2025” H.R. 2916 (Rep. Stefanik), 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. 3620 (Rep. Begich), “Southcentral Foundation Land Transfer Act” H.R. 3670 (Rep. Stansbury), “IHS Provider Expansion Act”
Summary
The House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs held a legislative hearing on June 11, 2025, examining four bills affecting Native American tribes and tribal health services. The bills addressed land claim settlements and healthcare expansion for American Indian and Alaska Native communities. H.R. 411, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act, would authorize the federal government to pay $33.9 million to the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community to settle the taking of lands from the tribe in Michigan during the 1800s and 1900s. H.R. 2916 would authorize, ratify, and confirm a settlement agreement resolving the Akwesasne Mohawk land claim in New York, returning 3,500 acres to the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe and allowing acquisition of up to 14,000 additional acres from willing sellers. H.R. 3620, the Southcentral Foundation Land Transfer Act, would transfer approximately 3.4 acres in Anchorage, Alaska, to the Southcentral Foundation for health and social services programs. H.R. 3670, the IHS Provider Expansion Act, would establish an Office of Graduate Medical Education Programs within the Indian Health Service to create residency and fellowship opportunities for health professionals. Witnesses included tribal leaders and federal officials. Robert Curtis Jr., President of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, testified on the land claim settlement. Beverly Cook, Chief of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, testified on the Akwesasne settlement. Leanndra Ross, Executive Vice-President of Executive and Tribal Services at Southcentral Foundation, testified on the land transfer. Darrell LaRoche, Acting Deputy Director of the Indian Health Service, testified on the healthcare bills. Dr. Adriann Begay, Navajo Nation Senior Advisor, testified in support of the IHS Provider Expansion Act. The hearing allowed the subcommittee to gather testimony before deciding whether to advance the legislation. A hearing does not guarantee that bills will move forward in the legislative process.
Video
Witnesses(8)
| Name | Position | Links |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Adriann BegayUCSF HEAL Initiative | Navajo Nation Senior Advisor | |
| Mr. Darrell LaRocheU.S. Department of Health and Human Services | Acting Deputy Director | |
| Ms. Leanndra RossSouthcentral Foundation | Executive Vice-President of Executive and Tribal Services | |
| The Honorable Beverly CookSaint Regis Mohawk Tribe | Tribal Chief | |
| The Honorable Jack Bergman | Member of Congress | |
| The Honorable Melanie Stansbury | Member of Congress | |
| The Honorable Nicholas Begich | Member of Congress | |
| The Honorable Robert CurtisKeweenaw Bay Indian Community | President |
