PROVIDING FOR THE EQUITABLE SETTLEMENT OF CERTAIN INDIAN LAND DISPUTES REGARDING LAND IN ILLINOIS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

On 2026-09-14, Representative Tom Cole (R-OK-4) delivered a floor speech titled "PROVIDING FOR THE EQUITABLE SETTLEMENT OF CERTAIN INDIAN LAND DISPUTES REGARDING LAND IN ILLINOIS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSE" in the House.

PROVIDING FOR THE EQUITABLE SETTLEMENT OF CERTAIN INDIAN LAND DISPUTES REGARDING LAND IN ILLINOIS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 144 (Monday, September 14, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 144 (Monday, September 14, 2026)] [House] [Pages H5574-H5575] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] PROVIDING FOR THE EQUITABLE SETTLEMENT OF CERTAIN INDIAN LAND DISPUTES REGARDING LAND IN ILLINOIS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 550) to provide for the equitable settlement of certain Indian land disputes regarding land in Illinois, and for other purposes. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: S. 550 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS. (a) Jurisdiction Conferred on the United States Court of Federal Claims.-- (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the United States Court of Federal Claims shall have jurisdiction to hear, determine, and render judgment on a land claim of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma under its Treaty with the United States of America signed at Grouseland August 21, 1805 (7 Stat. 91) (commonly known as the ``Treaty of Grouseland''), without regard to the statute of limitations, including section 2501 of title 28, United States Code, and any delay-based defense, no matter how characterized. (2) Jurisdiction expiration.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the jurisdiction conferred to the United States Court of Federal Claims under paragraph (1) shall expire unless the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma files a land claim under that paragraph. (b) Extinguishment of Title and Claims.--Except for a claim filed under subsection (a)(1), all other claims, including any and all future claims, of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, or any member, descendant, or predecessor in interest to the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, to land in the State of Illinois are extinguished. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Elfreth) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas. General Leave Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on S. 550, the bill now under consideration. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas? There was no objection. Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. S. 550, introduced by then-Senator Mullin and championed by Chairman Cole in this Chamber provides a narrow pathway for the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma to bring its treaty-based land claim related to certain lands in Illinois before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Now located in Oklahoma, the Tribe was originally based in the Great Lakes and Midwest region. The 1805 Treaty of Grouseland recognized the Miami Tribe's title to lands in the Wabash River watershed and ensured that the U.S. would not purchase portions of that territory without Tribal consent. In the decades that followed, additional treaties and Federal policies led to the large-scale cessions of the Tribe's land, including their historic homelands in Illinois. These lands are central to this legislation, as they were later patented to non-Native settlers without properly extinguishing Tribal title. This forms the basis of the Tribe's treaty-based claim. Congress enacted the Indian Claims Commission Act of 1946, which established the Indian Claims Commission, or ICC, to provide a forum for Tribes seeking monetary compensation for claims against the U.S. that predated August 13, 1946. The ICC did not restore land. Rather, it awarded monetary damages based on the land's value at the time of the taking. At the time of the ICC, the Miami Tribe preferred the return of the land in Illinois over cash awards. The Indian Claims Commission Act of 1946 required all claims to be filed within 5 years of enactment and barred late claims from being filed. The ICC ceased operations in 1978, and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims assumed all remaining matters. This legislation provides a narrow jurisdictional pathway for the Miami Tribe to bring its treaty-based land claim before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims within 1 year of the enactment of this legislation. This legislation only authorizes monetary relief against the U.S. and precludes any equitable relief or recovery against private landowners. Finally, this legislation extinguishes the Tribe's remaining land and title claims to the specified Illinois lands. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Cole for being a long-time champion of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, S. 550 would provide the U.S. Court of Federal Claims with jurisdiction over the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma's land claim in east central Illinois. Prior to being forcibly removed from their homeland, the Miami Tribe resided in the Great Lakes region. In 1805, the Miami Tribe, the Eel River Band, and the Wea signed the Treaty of Grouseland with the United States. The 1805 treaty provided that land south of the Great Lakes in the [[Page H5575]] Wabash River watershed were not ceded and the United States would not purchase lands without the consent of the signatories. However, the United States later violated this treaty when lands were placed into the public domain and parcels were transferred to settlers without extinguishing the Tribe's title to the land. This has resulted in difficulties and confusion with the current landowners as the Miami Tribe maintains a claim to the title. S. 550 would allow the Tribe 1 year to bring their claim before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and would extinguish any other of the Tribe's claims to the land. The bill provides the Tribe with a path forward to get their day in court but does not dictate an ultimate outcome. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole), who is the lead sponsor of the House companion to this bill and who is the chairman of the Appropriations Committee. Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank my very good friend, Chairman Westerman, for yielding me the time and for bringing this important piece of legislation to the floor. I also thank Congresswoman Betty McCollum of Minnesota for her collaboration, and Secretary Markwayne Mullin for his work on this legislation during his time in the Senate. I rise today, Mr. Speaker, in strong support of S. 550, the companion legislation to my bill, H.R. 2827. The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma have been waiting more than 10 years for this legislation to pass, and today is finally that day. Mr. Speaker, that would not be possible without Chairman Westerman's help and support, and I am very appreciative. Resolving this land claim will remedy a mistake made by the Federal Government roughly two centuries ago. In 1805, the Miami Tribe, Eel River Band, and Wea, signed the Treaty of Grouseland, which, under Article IV, reserved all lands within the Wabash River watershed and land located west of the Wabash River, which is in present-day Illinois. From 1805 to 1840, the United States transferred 2.6 million acres of this land to non-Native settlers without having acquired title from the Tribes. As a result, title to that land is still held by the Miami Tribe's superior claim to title, and the Tribe never consented to that land being purchased. S. 550 will allow the Miami Tribe to have their rightful day in court and extinguish all claims to this land in Illinois. This straightforward, bipartisan piece of legislation will not only provide finality for the Miami Tribe, but also certainty to the landowners and farmers in Illinois who have been living on this land for generations. As a Tribal member myself, it is an honor to help a fellow Tribal nation and be a voice here in Washington. Today is a testament of Congress upholding its trust and treaty responsibility, and I would like to thank Chairman Westerman again for his support. Chairman Hurd, Ranking Member Huffman, and Ranking Member Leger Fernandez were also instrumental, and I appreciate the efforts of their staff and their support and efforts on this important piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of S. 550. Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Cole for his remarks, I have no further requests for time, and I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to thank Chairman Cole for his dedication to this bill and seeing it through. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bipartisan piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of S. 550, and I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. 550. The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________

Referenced legislation: S550, S550, HR2827