S. 2160 Introduced Native Americans

Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians Restoration Act of 2025

A bill to reaffirm and clarify the Federal relationships of the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians of Michigan as a federally recognized Indian Tribe, and for other purposes.

  1. Introduced
  2. Committee
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Passed House
  5. To President
  6. Became law
Sponsor Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI] Introduced June 25, 2025 Cosponsors 1 (1 D) Latest action June 25, 2025

Summary

Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians Restoration Act of 2025
This bill affirms federal recognition of the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians of Michigan.
Specifically, the bill makes the tribe and its members eligible for services and benefits provided to federally recognized tribes, without regard to the existence of a reservation for the tribe or the location of the residence of any member on or near a reservation. The service area of the tribe shall be Newaygo, Oceana, Kent, Muskegon, and Ottawa Counties in Michigan.
Further, the tribe must submit a membership roll to the Department of the Interior as a condition of receiving recognition, services, and benefits. The tribe must maintain the membership roll.
The bill directs Interior to (1) acquire, for the benefit of the tribe, trust title to land within Muskegon, Newaygo, or Oceana Counties; and (2) accept into trust any real property located in those counties for the benefit of the tribe if the property is conveyed to Interior and, at the time of such acceptance, there are no adverse legal claims on such property (e.g., outstanding liens, mortgages, or taxes owed).
Additionally, the bill allows Interior to (1) acquire additional land for the benefit of the tribe, and (2) take into trust land in specified counties for the benefit of the tribe.
Any land taken into trust for the benefit of the tribe shall, upon request of the tribe, be considered part of the tribe's reservation.

Summary by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Congress.gov

Actions

  1. Jun 25, 2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
  2. Jun 25, 2025 Introduced in Senate

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