WashingtonWatch.com - H.R. 1294, The Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2006

Status as of September 25, 2008

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

9/25/2008: Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Indian Affairs. Date of scheduled consideration. SD-628. 2:15 p.m.

Revision by webmaster (September 23, 2008, 01:00:00)

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

H.R. 1294 would extend Federal recognition to the Chickahominy Indian Tribe, the Chickahominy Indian Tribe-Eastern Division, the Upper Mattaponi Tribe, the Rappahannock Tribe, Inc., the Monacan Indian Nation, and the Nansemond Indian Tribe.

Detailed Summary

Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2007 - Title I: Chickahominy Indian Tribe (Sec. 103) Extends federal recognition to the Chickahominy Indian Tribe.

Makes the Tribe and tribal members eligible for all services and benefits provided by the federal government to federally recognized Indian tribes. Sets forth the service area of the Tribe and requirements for the Tribe with respect to submission of a membership roll and governing documents and the governing body of the Tribe.

(Sec. 106) Requires the Secretary of the Interior, upon a certain land transfer, to take specified lands into trust for the benefit of the Tribe, which shall be considered part of the Tribe's reservation. Prohibits the Tribe from conducting gaming activities.

(Sec. 107) Specifies this Act's effect with regard to the hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering and water rights of the Tribe and its members.

(Sec. 108) Grants the State of Virginia jurisdiction over criminal offenses and civil actions on lands within Virginia that are owned by or held in trust for the Tribe. Authorizes the Secretary to accept all or a portion of the State's jurisdiction over such offenses and actions upon verification by the Secretary of a certification by a tribe that it possesses the capacity to reassume such jurisdiction.

Title II: Chickahominy Indian Tribe--Eastern Division - (Sec. 203) Extends federal recognition to the Chickahominy Indian Tribe--Eastern Division.

Makes the Tribe and tribal members eligible for all future services and benefits provided by the federal government to federally recognized Indian Tribes. Sets forth the service area of the Tribe and requirements for the Tribe with respect to submission of a membership roll and governing documents and the governing body of the Tribe.

(Sec. 206) Requires the Secretary of the Interior, upon a certain land transfer, to take specified lands into trust for the benefit of the Tribe, which shall be considered part of the Tribe's reservation. Prohibits the Tribe from conducting gaming activities.

(Sec. 207) Specifies this Act's effect with regard to the hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering and water rights of the Tribe and its members.

(Sec. 208) Grants the State of Virginia jurisdiction over criminal offenses and civil actions on lands within Virginia that are owned by or held in trust for the Tribe. Authorizes the Secretary to accept all or a portion of the State's jurisdiction over such offenses and actions upon verification by the Secretary of a certification by a tribe that it possesses the capacity to reassume such jurisdiction.

Title III: Upper Mattaponi Tribe - (Sec. 303) Extends federal recognition to the Upper Mattaponi Tribe.

Makes the Tribe and tribal members eligible for all services and benefits provided by the federal government to federally recognized Indian Tribes. Sets forth the service area of the Tribe and requirements for the Tribe with respect to submission of a membership roll and governing documents and the governing body of the Tribe.

(Sec. 306) Requires the Secretary of the Interior, upon a certain land transfer, to take specified lands into trust for the benefit of the Tribe, which shall be considered part of the Tribe's reservation. Prohibits the Tribe from conducting gaming activities.

(Sec. 307) Specifies this Act's effect with regard to the hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering and water rights of the Tribe and its members.

(Sec. 308) Grants the State of Virginia jurisdiction over criminal offenses and civil actions on lands within Virginia that are owned by or held in trust for the Tribe. Authorizes the Secretary to accept all or a portion of the State's jurisdiction over such offenses and actions upon verification by the Secretary of a certification by a tribe that it possesses the capacity to reassume such jurisdiction.

Title IV: Rappahannock Tribe, Inc. - (Sec. 403) Extends federal recognition to the Rappahannock Tribe, Inc.

(Sec. 406) Requires the Secretary of the Interior, upon a certain land transfer, to take specified lands into trust for the benefit of the Tribe, which shall be considered part of the Tribe's reservation. Prohibits the Tribe from conducting gaming activities.

(Sec. 407) Specifies this Act's effect with regard to the hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering and water rights of the Tribe and its members.

(Sec. 408) Grants the State of Virginia jurisdiction over criminal offenses and civil actions on lands within Virginia that are owned by or held in trust for the Tribe. Authorizes the Secretary to accept all or a portion of the State's jurisdiction over such offenses and actions upon verification by the Secretary of a certification by a tribe that it possesses the capacity to reassume such jurisdiction.

Title V: Monacan Indian Nation - (Sec. 503) Extends federal recognition to the Monacan Indian Nation.

(Sec. 506) Requires the Secretary of the Interior, upon a certain land transfer, to take specified lands into trust for the benefit of the Tribe, which shall be considered part of the Tribe's reservation. Prohibits the Tribe from conducting gaming activities.

(Sec. 507) Specifies this Act's effect with regard to the hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering and water rights of the Tribe and its members.

(Sec. 508) Grants the State of Virginia jurisdiction over criminal offenses and civil actions on lands within Virginia that are owned by or held in trust for the Tribe. Authorizes the Secretary to accept all or a portion of the State's jurisdiction over such offenses and actions upon verification by the Secretary of a certification by a tribe that it possesses the capacity to reassume such jurisdiction.

Title VI: Nansemond Indian Tribe - (Sec. 603) Extends federal recognition to the Nansemond Indian Tribe.

(Sec. 606) Requires the Secretary of the Interior, upon a certain land transfer, to take specified lands into trust for the benefit of the Tribe, which shall be considered part of the Tribe's reservation. Prohibits the Tribe from conducting gaming activities.

(Sec. 607) Specifies this Act's effect with regard to the hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering and water rights of the Tribe and its members.

(Sec. 608) Grants the State of Virginia jurisdiction over criminal offenses and civil actions on lands within Virginia that are owned by or held in trust for the Tribe. Authorizes the Secretary to accept all or a portion of the State's jurisdiction over such offenses and actions upon verification by the Secretary of a certification by a tribe that it possesses the capacity to reassume such jurisdiction.

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 9/25/2008: Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Indian Affairs. Date of scheduled consideration. SD-628. 2:15 p.m.

Points in Favor

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Revision by webmaster (July 5, 2007, 01:00:00)

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Detailed Summary

Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2006 - Extends Federal recognition to: (1) the Chickahominy Indian Tribe; (2) the Chickahominy Indian Tribe - Eastern Division; (3) the Upper Mattaponi Tribe; (4) the Rappahannock Tribe, Inc.; (5) the Monacan Indian Nation; and (6) the Nansemond Indian Tribe.

Sets forth the service areas of the various Tribes and requirements for the Tribes with respect to submission of a membership roll and governing documents and the governing body of each Tribe.

Requires the Secretary of the Interior, upon certain land transfers, to take specified lands into trust for the various Tribes' benefit.

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 5/9/2007: Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.