Open Eye

A plain-language record of the U.S. government

119th Congress · House

Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act

Subjects: Federal-Indian relations · Indian lands and resources rights · Land transfers · South Dakota · State and local taxation · Native Americans

In plain language

  • House bill in the 119th Congress.
  • Directs the Department of the Interior to complete all actions necessary to place approximately 40 acres of land.
  • House passed it on Jan 22, 2025 (substantive).
Official summary (Congressional Research Service)

Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act This act directs the Department of the Interior to complete all actions necessary to place approximately 40 acres of land in Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota, into restricted fee status for the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. Restricted fee status refers to land that is owned by a tribe or tribal member but is subject to restrictions by the United States against alienation (i.e., sale or transfer) or encumbrance (e.g., liens, leases, or rights-of-way) by operation of law. The act requires the land to be held and maintained as a memorial and sacred site, as outlined by the document titled Covenant Between the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and dated October 21, 2022. Further, it prohibits commercial development and gaming activity on the land.

View this measure on congress.gov

Roll-call votes on this measure