To amend the Act of August 9, 1955 (commonly known as the “Long-Term Leasing Act”), to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land in the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation and land held in trust for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), and for other purposes
- Bill Number
- H.R. 681
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- 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
- 2026-06-11T05:06:25Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation, H.R. 681, aims to expand leasing options for specific Native American tribal lands by amending the Long-Term Leasing Act of 1955. It authorizes the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) to enter into leases of up to 99 years for their reservation and trust lands, promoting economic development and land use flexibility.
Key Provisions
- Amendment to Existing Law: Modifies Section 1(a) of the Act of August 9, 1955 (25 U.S.C. 415(a)), commonly known as the Long-Term Leasing Act, which generally allows certain tribal lands to be leased for up to 99 years with federal approval.
- Specific Additions: Inserts "the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation" and "land held in trust for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah)" into the list of eligible lands following the "Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation."
- Scope: Applies only to these two tribes' lands; all other provisions of the original act remain unchanged, including requirements for Secretary of the Interior approval.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expansion of Eligibility: Prior to this amendment, the Long-Term Leasing Act permitted 99-year leases for a limited set of tribal reservations and trust lands (e.g., those of the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis). This bill adds the lands of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe (located in Massachusetts) and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) (also in Massachusetts) to that list.
- No Broader Alterations: The core framework—such as lease terms, federal oversight, and purposes (e.g., business, housing, or community development)—stays the same; it simply extends the authority to these specific tribes without creating new rules.
Potential Impacts
- On Tribal Communities: Enables the tribes to pursue long-term economic projects, such as commercial developments or housing, which could generate revenue and jobs for tribal members, fostering self-sufficiency.
- On Government Agencies: The Bureau of Indian Affairs (part of the Department of the Interior) will handle additional lease approvals for these tribes, potentially increasing administrative workload but aligning with federal support for tribal economic growth.
- On Citizens and Broader Society: May indirectly benefit local non-tribal communities in Massachusetts through increased economic activity on tribal lands; no direct impact on individual citizens outside these contexts.
- On International Relations: None apparent, as the bill focuses solely on domestic U.S. tribal lands.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Primary: The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), including their governing bodies and members, who gain enhanced control over land use.
- Secondary: The U.S. Department of the Interior (via the Bureau of Indian Affairs), which oversees lease approvals; potential business lessees (e.g., developers or companies seeking long-term access to the land); and local Massachusetts governments, which may see spillover economic effects.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces federal Indian law principles by extending established leasing authority, ensuring consistency with treaties and trust responsibilities (where the U.S. government holds tribal lands "in trust" for the tribes' benefit). No new litigation risks are introduced, as it builds on existing statutes.
- Constitutional: Aligns with the U.S. Constitution's framework for federal-tribal relations (e.g., the Indian Commerce Clause), promoting tribal sovereignty without infringing on states' rights, given the lands' federal trust status.
- Political: Represents bipartisan support for Native American economic empowerment, as evidenced by its passage in the House; it highlights ongoing congressional efforts to address historical limitations on tribal land use, potentially setting a precedent for similar amendments for other tribes.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-20: Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 2026-03-04: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
- 2026-03-03: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
- 2026-03-03: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 2026-03-03: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2358)
- 2026-03-03: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2358)
- 2026-03-03: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 681.
- 2026-03-03: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2357-2358)
- 2026-03-03: Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 2026-01-14: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 384.
- 2026-01-14: Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-449.
- 2026-01-14: Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-449.
- 2025-11-20: Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
- 2025-11-20: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2025-11-20: Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs Discharged
Bill Versions
- An Act To amend the Act of August 9, 1955 (commonly known as the “Long-Term Leasing Act”), to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land in the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation and land held in trust for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), and for other purposes. — issued 2026-03-03 — PDF (4 pages)
- To amend the Act of August 9, 1955 (commonly known as the "Long-Term Leasing Act"), to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land held in trust for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), and for other purposes. — issued 2025-01-23 — PDF (2 pages)
- An Act To amend the Act of August 9, 1955 (commonly known as the “Long-Term Leasing Act”), to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land in the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation and land held in trust for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), and for other purposes. — issued 2026-03-04 — PDF (2 pages)
- To amend the Act of August 9, 1955 (commonly known as the "Long-Term Leasing Act"), to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land held in trust for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), and for other purposes. — issued 2026-01-14 — PDF (4 pages)