Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 504
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Native Americans
- Status
- Failed of passage in House over veto
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-08: The Chair directed the Clerk to notify the Senate of the action of the House.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-11T15:58:18Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation amends the Miccosukee Reserved Area Act of 1998 to expand the boundaries of the Miccosukee Reserved Area within Everglades National Park and to require actions to protect certain tribal structures from flooding. The goal is to support the Miccosukee Tribe's interests in preserving their cultural and living spaces amid environmental challenges.
Key Provisions
- Short Title: The Act is named the "Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act."
- Expansion of Reserved Area: Adds a new subsection to define the Miccosukee Reserved Area (MRA) to include the "Osceola Camp" portion of Everglades National Park. This area is specified on a map titled "Everglades National Park, Proposed Expansion-Miccosukee Reserved Area, Osceola Camp" (numbered 160/188443, dated July 2023).
- The map must be made available for public inspection at National Park Service offices.
- Copies must be filed with officials in Miami-Dade County and the Miccosukee Tribe.
- Flood Protection Measures: Requires the Secretary of the Interior (who oversees the National Park Service) to consult with the Miccosukee Tribe and, within 2 years of the Act's enactment, implement appropriate steps to safeguard structures in the Osceola Camp from flooding.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Boundary Expansion: Previously, the Miccosukee Reserved Area was limited to specific lands described in the 1998 Act. This amendment explicitly incorporates the Osceola Camp, increasing the Tribe's designated area within the national park without altering overall park boundaries.
- New Mandate for Action: Introduces a specific timeline and consultation requirement for flood protection, which was not previously outlined in the Act. This shifts from permissive language to a directive for the federal government to act proactively on environmental threats.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The National Park Service will need to update maps, manage the expanded reserved area, and allocate resources for flood mitigation projects, potentially involving engineering or environmental assessments. This could increase administrative and funding demands on the Department of the Interior.
- Citizens and Tribal Members: Benefits the Miccosukee Tribe by securing additional land for cultural and residential use and protecting homes and structures from flood risks in a flood-prone region like the Everglades. It may enhance tribal resilience to climate change without directly affecting non-tribal citizens.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as the legislation focuses on domestic land management within a U.S. national park.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Miccosukee Tribe: Primary beneficiary, gaining expanded reserved land and flood protections for their Osceola Camp community.
- National Park Service (Department of the Interior): Responsible for implementation, including consultations, mapping, and protective actions.
- Miami-Dade County: Involved through map filing and potential coordination on local land use or environmental issues.
- Environmental and Conservation Groups: Indirectly affected, as changes occur within a sensitive ecosystem like Everglades National Park, potentially influencing habitat preservation efforts.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces federal-tribal agreements under the 1998 Act, emphasizing consultation with the Tribe as a legal obligation. The 2-year deadline creates an enforceable timeline, which could lead to litigation if unmet.
- Constitutional: Aligns with the federal government's trust responsibility to Native American tribes (a principle rooted in treaties and Supreme Court precedents), promoting tribal self-determination without raising separation of powers concerns.
- Political: Highlights bipartisan support for tribal rights and environmental stewardship in Florida, potentially setting a precedent for similar expansions or protections in other national parks amid rising sea levels and flooding risks. No major controversies are evident from the text, as it builds on existing law.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Gimenez, Carlos A. [R-FL-28]
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Diaz-Balart, Mario [R-FL-26], Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27], Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9]
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-08: The Chair directed the Clerk to notify the Senate of the action of the House.
- 2026-01-08: On motion to refer the bill and the accompanying veto message to the Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2026-01-08: Motion to refer the bill and accompanying veto message to the Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2026-01-08: On passage, the objections of the President to the contrary notwithstanding Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 236 - 188 (Roll no. 8). (Roll call 8)
- 2026-01-08: Failed of passage in House over veto On passage, the objections of the President to the contrary notwithstanding Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 236 - 188 (Roll no. 8). (Roll call 8)
- 2026-01-08: The Chair announced the unfinished business to be the consideration of the veto. (consideration: CR H211-212)
- 2026-01-08: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the veto message of the President to H.R. 504, the Chair put the question on will the House, on reconsideration, pass the bill, the objections of the President to the contrary notwithstanding. Under the Constitution, the vote must be taken by the yeas and nays. Further proceedings were postponed until a time to be announced.
- 2026-01-08: The previous question was ordered without objection.
- 2026-01-08: DEBATE - Pursuant to a previous order of the House of January 2, 2026, the unfinished business is the further consideration of the veto message of the President on H.R. 504. The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the objections of the President to the contrary notwithstanding. (consideration: CR H208-209)
- 2026-01-08: The Chair laid before the House the veto message from the President.
- 2026-01-02: POSTPONED CONSIDERATION OF VETO MESSAGE - The Chair announced that further consideration of the veto message and the bill, H.R. 504, is postponed until the legislative day of January 8, 2026. Agreed to without objection.
- 2026-01-02: The Chair announced that the objections of the President to H.R. 504 would be spread at large upon the Journal and the veto message would be printed as a House Document (119-120).
- 2026-01-02: The Chair laid before the House the veto message from the President. (text: CR H6136)
- 2025-12-29: Vetoed by President.
- 2025-12-29: Vetoed by President.
Bill Versions
- Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act — issued 2025-07-14 — PDF (4 pages)
- Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act — issued 2025-12-17 — PDF (2 pages)
- Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act — issued 2025-01-16 — PDF (3 pages)
- Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act — issued 2025-12-09 — PDF (4 pages)
- Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act — issued 2025-07-10 — PDF (6 pages)