S. 2599Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)Passed Senate

Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Reservation Restoration Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 9:12 PM UTC

The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Reservation Restoration Act transfers roughly 11,760 acres of federal land in Minnesota’s Chippewa National Forest back to the Leech Lake Band. The land will be held in trust by the United States and become part of the tribe’s reservation, while existing easements and rights‑of‑way are preserved. The bill also sets up a quick survey and mapping process and limits the land’s use, prohibiting gaming and applying federal rules to timber harvesting.

Key Provisions

Congress finds that about 11,760 acres of land in the Chippewa National Forest were taken from the Leech Lake Band between 1948‑1959 through illegal sales, leaving the tribe with the smallest share of its original reservation.
The Secretary of Agriculture must transfer that land to the Secretary of the Interior, who will hold it in trust for the tribe and treat it as part of the tribe’s reservation.
Within 180 days the Secretary must complete a survey, create a map and legal description of the land, and make those documents publicly available.
The tribe agrees to honor existing utility easements, road rights‑of‑way, and flowage/reservoir rights on the land and will keep the land tax‑exempt within the national forest until it develops a subdivision plan.
The land cannot be used for gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, and any unprocessed logs harvested must follow existing federal export rules; commercial forestry must follow federal law.

Legislative Activity

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9 earlier actions

HouseFloor Latest Action

Held at the desk.

December 19, 2018 • 5:03 PM

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

March 22, 2018

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

Indian Affairs Committee

March 22, 2018

SenateCommittee

Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-327.

Indian Affairs Committee

July 11, 2018

SenateCommittee

Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.

Indian Affairs Committee

September 26, 2018

SenateCommittee

Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Hoeven with amendments. With written report No. 115-396.

Indian Affairs Committee

November 28, 2018

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 685.

November 28, 2018

SenateFloor

Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S7576-7577; text: CR S7577)

December 13, 2018

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

December 17, 2018

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

December 19, 2018 • 2:11 PM

HouseFloor

Held at the desk.

December 19, 2018 • 5:03 PM

Floor Debate

2 members

What members said about S. 2599 on the floor

2 Republicans

Sen. Shelley Moore CapitoR-WV · Jul 11, 2018

Mr. President, I have 11 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of…

Mr. President, I have 11 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders.

Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate:

committee on commerce, science, and transportation

The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 11, 2018, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Complex Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities: Lessons Learned from Spectre and Meltdown.''

committee on environment and public works

The Committee on Environment and Public Works is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 11, 2018, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``the Long-term Value to U.S. Taxpayers of Low-cost Federal Infrastructure Loans''.

committee on foreign relations

The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 11, 2018, to conduct a hearing.

committee on the judiciary

The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 11, 2018, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on the following nominations: Ryan Douglas Nelson, of Idaho, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, Stephen R. Clark, Sr., to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri, John M. O'Connor, to be United States District Judge for the Northern, Eastern and Western Districts of Oklahoma, Joshua Wolson, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and James W. Carroll, Jr., of Virginia, to be Director of National Drug Control Policy.

committee on indian affairs

The Committee on Indian Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 11, 2018, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing on H.R. 597.

committee on indian affairs

The Committee on Indian Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 11, 2018, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing on S. 2599.

select committee on intelligence

The Select Committee on Intelligence is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 11, 2018, at 10:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Election Security Preparations: Federal and Vendor Perspectives''.

committee on rules and administration

The Committee on Rules and Administration is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 11, 2018, at 10:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Election Security Preparations: Federal and Vendor Perspectives''.

subcommittee on national parks

The Subcommittee on National Parks of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 11, 2018, at 3 p.m. to conduct a hearing.

subcommittee on federal spending oversight and emergency management

The Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 11, 2018, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Examining Warrantless Smartphone Searches at the Border''.

subcommittee on social security, pensions, and family policy

The Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy of the Committee on Finance is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 11, 2018, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Examining the Importance of Paid Family Leave for American Working Families''.

Sen. James LankfordR-OK · Dec 13, 2018

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 685, S. 2599. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported…

Bill Text

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Engrossed in SenateIssued December 13, 2018

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 2599

AN ACT

To provide for the transfer of certain Federal land in the State of Minnesota for the benefit of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Reservation Restoration Act.

Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe reservation restoration

(a)

Findings

Congress finds that—

(1)

the Federal land described in subsection (b)(1) was taken from members of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe during a period—

(A)

beginning in 1948;

(B)

during which the Bureau of Indian Affairs incorrectly interpreted an order of the Secretary of the Interior to mean that the Department of the Interior had the authority to sell tribal allotments without the consent of a majority of the rightful landowners; and

(C)

ending in 1959, when the Secretary of the Interior was—

(i)

advised that sales described in subparagraph (B) were illegal; and

(ii)

ordered to cease conducting those sales;

(2)

as a result of the Federal land described in subsection (b)(1) being taken from members of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe hold the smallest percentage of its original reservation lands of any Ojibwe bands in Minnesota;

(3)

(A)

the applicable statute of limitations prohibits individuals from pursuing through litigation the return of the land taken as described in paragraph (1); but

(B)

a Federal judge ruled that the land could be restored to the affected individuals through the legislative process;

(4)

a comprehensive review of the Federal land demonstrated that—

(A)

a portion of the Federal land is encumbered by—

(i)

utility easements;

(ii)

rights-of-way for roads; and

(iii)

flowage and reservoir rights; and

(B)

there are no known cabins, campgrounds, lodges, or resorts located on any portion of the Federal land; and

(5)

on reacquisition by the Tribe of the Federal land, the Tribe—

(A)

has pledged to respect the easements, rights-of-way, and other rights described in paragraph (4)(A); and

(B)

(i)

does not intend immediately to modify the use of the Federal land; but

(ii)

will keep the Federal land in tax-exempt fee status as part of the Chippewa National Forest until the Tribe develops a plan that allows for a gradual subdivision of some tracts for economic and residential development by the Tribe.

(b)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Federal land

(A)

In general

The term Federal land means the approximately 11,760 acres of Federal land located in the Chippewa National Forest in Cass County, Minnesota, the boundaries of which shall be depicted on the map, and described in the legal description, submitted under subsection (d)(1)(B).

(B)

Inclusions

The term Federal land includes—

(i)

any improvement located on the Federal land described in subparagraph (A); and

(ii)

any appurtenance to the Federal land.

(2)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.

(3)

Tribe

The term Tribe means the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.

(c)

Transfer to reservation

(1)

In general

Subject to valid existing rights and paragraph (2), the Secretary shall transfer to the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Federal land.

(2)

Treatment

Effective immediately on the transfer under paragraph (1), the Federal land shall be—

(A)

held in trust by the United States for the benefit of the Tribe; and

(B)

considered to be a part of the reservation of the Tribe.

(d)

Survey, map, and legal description

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall—

(A)

not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, complete a plan of survey to establish the boundaries of the Federal land; and

(B)

as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, submit a map and legal description of the Federal land to—

(i)

the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; and

(ii)

the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate.

(2)

Force and effect

The map and legal description submitted under paragraph (1)(B) shall have the same force and effect as if included in this Act, except that the Secretary may correct any clerical or typographical error in the map or legal description.

(3)

Public availability

The map and legal description submitted under paragraph (1)(B) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the office of the Secretary.

(e)

Administration

(1)

In general

Except as otherwise expressly provided in this section, nothing in this section affects any right or claim of the Tribe, as in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, to any land or interest in land.

(2)

Prohibitions

(A)

Exports of unprocessed logs

Federal law (including regulations) relating to the export of unprocessed logs harvested from Federal land shall apply to any unprocessed logs that are harvested from the Federal land.

(B)

Non-permissible use of land

The Federal land shall not be eligible or used for any gaming activity carried out under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.).

(3)

Forest management

Any commercial forestry activity carried out on the Federal land shall be managed in accordance with applicable Federal law.

Passed the Senate December 13, 2018.

Secretary