Floor SpeechNeutral2026-09-29

ALBUQUERQUE INDIAN SCHOOL ACT OF 2026

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On 2026-09-29, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) delivered a floor speech titled "ALBUQUERQUE INDIAN SCHOOL ACT OF 2026" in the Senate.

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ALBUQUERQUE INDIAN SCHOOL ACT OF 2026

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 154 (Tuesday, September 29, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 154 (Tuesday, September 29, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S5145-S5146] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] ALBUQUERQUE INDIAN SCHOOL ACT OF 2026 The bill (S. 3219) to transfer certain Federal land into trust for certain Indian Pueblos in the State of New Mexico, and for other purposes, which had been reported from the Committee on Indian Affairs with an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic, as follows: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Albuquerque Indian School Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. TRANSFER OF LAND INTO TRUST FOR THE 19 PUEBLOS. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) 19 pueblos.--The term ``19 Pueblos'' means the New Mexico Indian Pueblos of-- (A) Acoma; (B) Cochiti; (C) Isleta; (D) Jemez; (E) Laguna; (F) Nambe; (G) Ohkay Owingeh (San Juan); (H) Picuris; (I) Pojoaque; (J) San Felipe; (K) San Ildefonso; (L) Sandia; (M) Santa Ana; (N) Santa Clara; (O) Santo Domingo; (P) Taos; (Q) Tesuque; (R) Zia; and (S) Zuni. (2) Indian pueblo cultural center.--The term ``Indian Pueblo Cultural Center'' means the nonprofit organization wholly owned and operated by the 19 Pueblos (or any successor corporate or administrative entity designated by the 19 Pueblos). (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior. (4) Survey.--Except as provided in subsection (e), the term ``survey'' means the survey plat entitled ``Plat of Tracts 1 Thru 3 Lands of US Indian Service and Bureau of Indian Affairs'', prepared by Surv-Tek, Inc., and dated May 2023. (b) Transfer of Jurisdiction.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of General Services shall transfer to the Secretary administrative jurisdiction over the Federal land described in subsection (d). (c) Land Into Trust.--Not later than 90 days after the transfer of administrative jurisdiction under subsection (b), the Secretary shall take into trust all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Federal land described in subsection (d) for the benefit of the 19 Pueblos. (d) Federal Land.--The Federal land referred to in this section is the 3 tracts of Federal land, the combined acreage of which is approximately 9.89 acres, that were historically part of the Albuquerque Indian School and, as of the date of enactment of this Act, are under the administrative jurisdiction of the General Services Administration, more particularly described as follows: (1) Tract 1.--The approximately 3.57 acres located in secs. 7 and 8 of T. 10 N., R. 3 E., of the New Mexico Principal Meridian in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as identified on the survey. (2) Tract 2.--The approximately 5.78 acres located in secs. 7 and 8 of T. 10 N., R. 3 E., of the New Mexico Principal Meridian in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as identified on the survey. (3) Tract 3.--The approximately .54 acres located in secs. 7 and 8 of T. 10 N., R. 3 E., of the New Mexico Principal Meridian in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as identified on the survey. (e) Survey.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary-- (A) shall obtain, with respect to the Federal land taken into trust under subsection (c)-- (i) a survey; and (ii) from the Administrator of General Services, a copy of all encumbrances on that land; and (B) may make minor corrections to the survey and legal description of the Federal land described in subsection (d) as the Secretary determines to be necessary to correct clerical, typographical, and surveying land title errors. (2) Availability.--The survey and all applicable transfer documents, including copies of all encumbrances, obtained under paragraph (1)(A) shall be recorded in-- (A) the public records of the County Clerk Office of Bernalillo County, New Mexico; and (B) the appropriate Land Titles and Records Office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. (f) Use of Land.--The Federal land taken into trust under subsection (c) shall be-- [[Page S5146]] (1) used for the educational, health, cultural, business, and economic development of the 19 Pueblos; and (2) subject to Federal laws applicable to Indian trust land. (g) Limitations and Conditions.--The Federal land taken into trust under subsection (c) shall remain subject to any private or municipal encumbrance, right-of-way, restriction, easement of record, or utility service agreement in effect on the date of enactment of this Act. (h) Conveyance of Buildings and Other Improvements.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the transfer of administrative jurisdiction under subsection (b), the Secretary shall convey all ownership interests of the United States in all buildings, structures, improvements, and appurtenances located on the Federal land described in subsection (d) to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, to own in fee. (2) Lease.-- (A) In general.--As part of the conveyance of buildings and other improvements under paragraph (1), the Federal Government shall enter into a lease with the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center for the continued occupancy and use of Tract 2 of the Federal land, as described in subsection (d)(2), by each Federal tenant located on that tract of Federal land as of the date described in that paragraph. (B) Requirement.--The lease entered into under subparagraph (A) shall permit the Federal tenants described in that subparagraph to remain on Tract 2 of the Federal land, as described in subsection (d)(2), for an initial term not to exceed 24 months. (C) Extension.--The parties to the lease entered into under subparagraph (A) may, by mutual written agreement, extend the term of the lease for 1 or more additional terms if the parties determine that additional time is necessary. (D) Termination.--At the option of a Federal tenant described in subparagraph (A), the Federal tenant may terminate its participation in the lease entered into under that subparagraph prior to the expiration of the initial or any extended lease term by providing notice in accordance with the terms of the lease. (i) Gaming Prohibition.--The Federal land taken into trust under subsection (c) shall not be used for any class II gaming or class III gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) (as those terms are defined in section 4 of that Act (25 U.S.C. 2703)). The committee-reported amendment, in the nature of a substitute, was agreed to. The bill (S. 3219), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, was read the third time, and passed. Ms. MURKOWSKI. It is good to be able to not only get the Southcentral Foundation Land Transfer Act accomplished but several other measures that the Indian Affairs Committee has been working on for some time. ____________________

Referenced legislation: S3219, S3219

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ALBUQUERQUE INDIAN SCHOOL ACT OF 2026 Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 154 (Tuesday, September 29, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 154 (Tuesday, September 29, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S5145-S5146] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] ALBUQUERQUE INDIAN SCHOOL ACT OF 2026 The bill (S. 3219) to transfer certain Federal land into trust for certain Indian Pueblos in the State of New Mexico, and for other purposes, which had been reported from the Committee on Indian Affairs with an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic, as follows: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Albuquerque Indian School Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. TRANSFER OF LAND INTO TRUST FOR THE 19 PUEBLOS. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) 19 pueblos.--The term ``19 Pueblos'' means the New Mexico Indian Pueblos of-- (A) Acoma; (B) Cochiti; (C) Isleta; (D) Jemez; (E) Laguna; (F) Nambe; (G) Ohkay Owingeh (San Juan); (H) Picuris; (I) Pojoaque; (J) San Felipe; (K) San Ildefonso; (L) Sandia; (M) Santa Ana; (N) Santa Clara; (O) Santo Domingo; (P) Taos; (Q) Tesuque; (R) Zia; and (S) Zuni. (2) Indian pueblo cultural center.--The term ``Indian Pueblo Cultural Center'' means the nonprofit organization wholly owned and operated by the 19 Pueblos (or any successor corporate or administrative entity designated by the 19 Pueblos). (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior. (4) Survey.--Except as provided in subsection (e), the term ``survey'' means the survey plat entitled ``Plat of Tracts 1 Thru 3 Lands of US Indian Service and Bureau of Indian Affairs'', prepared by Surv-Tek, Inc., and dated May 2023. (b) Transfer of Jurisdiction.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of General Services shall transfer to the Secretary administrative jurisdiction over the Federal land described in subsection (d). (c) Land Into Trust.--Not later than 90 days after the transfer of administrative jurisdiction under subsection (b), the Secretary shall take into trust all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Federal land described in subsection (d) for the benefit of the 19 Pueblos. (d) Federal Land.--The Federal land referred to in this section is the 3 tracts of Federal land, the combined acreage of which is approximately 9.89 acres, that were historically part of the Albuquerque Indian School and, as of the date of enactment of this Act, are under the administrative jurisdiction of the General Services Administration, more particularly described as follows: (1) Tract 1.--The approximately 3.57 acres located in secs. 7 and 8 of T. 10 N., R. 3 E., of the New Mexico Principal Meridian in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as identified on the survey. (2) Tract 2.--The approximately 5.78 acres located in secs. 7 and 8 of T. 10 N., R. 3 E., of the New Mexico Principal Meridian in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as identified on the survey. (3) Tract 3.--The approximately .54 acres located in secs. 7 and 8 of T. 10 N., R. 3 E., of the New Mexico Principal Meridian in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as identified on the survey. (e) Survey.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary-- (A) shall obtain, with respect to the Federal land taken into trust under subsection (c)-- (i) a survey; and (ii) from the Administrator of General Services, a copy of all encumbrances on that land; and (B) may make minor corrections to the survey and legal description of the Federal land described in subsection (d) as the Secretary determines to be necessary to correct clerical, typographical, and surveying land title errors. (2) Availability.--The survey and all applicable transfer documents, including copies of all encumbrances, obtained under paragraph (1)(A) shall be recorded in-- (A) the public records of the County Clerk Office of Bernalillo County, New Mexico; and (B) the appropriate Land Titles and Records Office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. (f) Use of Land.--The Federal land taken into trust under subsection (c) shall be-- [[Page S5146]] (1) used for the educational, health, cultural, business, and economic development of the 19 Pueblos; and (2) subject to Federal laws applicable to Indian trust land. (g) Limitations and Conditions.--The Federal land taken into trust under subsection (c) shall remain subject to any private or municipal encumbrance, right-of-way, restriction, easement of record, or utility service agreement in effect on the date of enactment of this Act. (h) Conveyance of Buildings and Other Improvements.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the transfer of administrative jurisdiction under subsection (b), the Secretary shall convey all ownership interests of the United States in all buildings, structures, improvements, and appurtenances located on the Federal land described in subsection (d) to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, to own in fee. (2) Lease.-- (A) In general.--As part of the conveyance of buildings and other improvements under paragraph (1), the Federal Government shall enter into a lease with the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center for the continued occupancy and use of Tract 2 of the Federal land, as described in subsection (d)(2), by each Federal tenant located on that tract of Federal land as of the date described in that paragraph. (B) Requirement.--The lease entered into under subparagraph (A) shall permit the Federal tenants described in that subparagraph to remain on Tract 2 of the Federal land, as described in subsection (d)(2), for an initial term not to exceed 24 months. (C) Extension.--The parties to the lease entered into under subparagraph (A) may, by mutual written agreement, extend the term of the lease for 1 or more additional terms if the parties determine that additional time is necessary. (D) Termination.--At the option of a Federal tenant described in subparagraph (A), the Federal tenant may terminate its participation in the lease entered into under that subparagraph prior to the expiration of the initial or any extended lease term by providing notice in accordance with the terms of the lease. (i) Gaming Prohibition.--The Federal land taken into trust under subsection (c) shall not be used for any class II gaming or class III gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) (as those terms are defined in section 4 of that Act (25 U.S.C. 2703)). The committee-reported amendment, in the nature of a substitute, was agreed to. The bill (S. 3219), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, was read the third time, and passed. Ms. MURKOWSKI. It is good to be able to not only get the Southcentral Foundation Land Transfer Act accomplished but several other measures that the Indian Affairs Committee has been working on for some time. ____________________ Referenced legislation: S3219, S3219