Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2388
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Native Americans
- Status
- Passed House
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-20: Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-21T10:56:44Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation aims to restore certain federal lands to the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe by placing them into trust with the United States government for the tribe's benefit, integrating them into the tribe's reservation. This supports land restoration efforts tied to prior environmental recovery projects in the Elwha River area.
Key Provisions
- Land Transfer into Trust: Approximately 1,082.63 acres of federal land within Olympic National Park in Washington State—specifically parcels depicted on a map titled "Olympic National Park Proposed Transfer of Elwha Lands" (dated December 2021)—are taken into trust by the Secretary of the Interior for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. This land becomes part of the tribe's Lower Elwha Indian Reservation.
- Exemptions from Standard Processes: The land transfer does not require valuation, appraisal, or equalization under federal law, streamlining the process while respecting existing U.S. rights.
- Land Management Requirements: A portion of the Elwha River on the transferred land must be managed according to the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (which protects certain rivers for their natural, cultural, or recreational value), with allowances for modifications needed under the earlier Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act (from 1992).
- Survey and Adjustments: The Secretary must conduct a survey to define boundaries soon after enactment and can make minor adjustments or corrections to maps, acreage, or descriptions.
- Gaming Prohibition: The land cannot be used for gaming activities under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (a federal law regulating tribal casinos and gambling).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This act bypasses typical federal requirements for appraising or valuing land before trust status, which is usually needed for such transfers to ensure fairness in exchanges.
- It builds on the 1992 Elwha River Act by specifying how river management will align with wild and scenic protections, potentially simplifying ongoing environmental oversight.
- No direct amendments to broader laws like the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, but it explicitly excludes the new trust land from gaming eligibility, limiting its use compared to other tribal lands.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The National Park Service (part of the Department of the Interior) will lose control over the transferred land, potentially affecting park management and visitor access in Olympic National Park. The Secretary of the Interior gains responsibility for surveying and minor adjustments.
- Citizens and Local Communities: Tribal members gain expanded reservation land for cultural, environmental, or community use, which could enhance local ecosystem restoration (e.g., river fisheries). Non-tribal residents or park visitors might see changes in land access or use, though existing rights are preserved.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as this is a domestic land transfer involving U.S. federal and tribal entities.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe: Primary beneficiary, gaining trust land for reservation expansion and potential restoration projects without gaming options.
- U.S. Department of the Interior and National Park Service: Responsible for implementation, including surveys and management transitions.
- Local Washington State Communities and Environmental Groups: Indirectly affected through changes in land use near the Elwha River, which could influence tourism, wildlife, and fisheries.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces federal trust responsibilities to tribes under the Indian Reorganization Act framework (a 1934 law promoting tribal self-governance through land trusts), while explicitly preserving rights under the 1855 Treaty of Point No Point (a historical agreement securing tribal fishing and other rights). The gaming ban avoids potential disputes over casino development.
- Constitutional: Aligns with the U.S. Constitution's Property Clause (Article IV, Section 3), allowing Congress to manage federal lands, and supports tribal sovereignty without infringing on state authority.
- Political: Represents a bipartisan effort to fulfill long-standing tribal land restoration promises linked to dam removal and ecosystem recovery in the Elwha area, potentially setting a precedent for similar trust transfers in national parks while limiting economic uses like gaming to address local concerns.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-20: Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 2025-12-10: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
- 2025-12-09: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 2025-12-09: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5080)
- 2025-12-09: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5080)
- 2025-12-09: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2388.
- 2025-12-09: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5080-5081)
- 2025-12-09: Mr. Crank moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- 2025-09-15: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 243.
- 2025-09-15: Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-287.
- 2025-09-15: Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-287.
- 2025-06-25: Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
- 2025-06-25: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2025-06-25: Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs Discharged
- 2025-05-20: Subcommittee Hearings Held
Bill Versions
- Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act — issued 2025-12-09 — PDF (6 pages)
- Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act — issued 2025-03-26 — PDF (4 pages)
- Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act — issued 2025-12-10 — PDF (4 pages)
- Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act — issued 2025-09-15 — PDF (6 pages)