H.R. 4839House117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2021

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Updated February 8, 2026 at 5:55 AM UTC

The Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2021 amends the National Labor Relations Act to treat Indian tribes and tribal-owned businesses on Indian lands as employers under the law. It also adds clear definitions for “Indian tribe,” “Indian,” and “Indian lands,” covering reservations, trust lands, and former reservation areas in Oklahoma. This change affects labor relations involving tribal entities and workers on those lands.

Key Provisions

Adds Indian tribes and any enterprise or institution owned and operated by an Indian tribe on Indian lands to the definition of “employer” under the NLRA.
Defines “Indian tribe” as any recognized tribe, band, nation, pueblo, or similar group eligible for U.S. special programs.
Defines “Indian” as any individual who is a member of an Indian tribe.
Defines “Indian lands” to include reservation lands, trust lands, and lands in Oklahoma that were part of former reservations.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Education and Workforce Committee

July 29, 2021

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

July 29, 2021

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Education and Workforce Committee

July 29, 2021

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in HouseIssued July 29, 2021

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 4839

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 29, 2021

Mr. Moolenaar (for himself, Mr. Cole, Mr. Johnson of South Dakota, Mr. LaMalfa, and Mr. Young) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

A BILL

To clarify the rights of Indians and Indian tribes on Indian lands under the National Labor Relations Act.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2021.

Definition of employer

Section 2 of the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 152) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (2), by inserting or any Indian tribe, or any enterprise or institution owned and operated by an Indian tribe and located on its Indian lands, after subdivision thereof,; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following:

(15)

The term Indian tribe means any Indian tribe, band, nation, pueblo, or other organized group or community which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.

(16)

The term Indian means any individual who is a member of an Indian tribe.

(17)

The term Indian lands means—

(A)

all lands within the limits of any Indian reservation;

(B)

any lands title to which is either held in trust by the United States for the benefit of any Indian tribe or Indian or held by any Indian tribe or Indian subject to restriction by the United States against alienation; and

(C)

any lands in the State of Oklahoma that are within the boundaries of a former reservation (as defined by the Secretary of the Interior) of a federally recognized Indian tribe.