S. 3475Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

A bill to authorize, ratify, and confirm the Agreement of Settlement and Compromise to Resolve the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim in the State of New York, and for other purposes.

Introduced December 15, 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 9, 2026 at 3:21 AM UTC

This bill authorizes Congress to ratify and confirm a settlement agreement that resolves the Akwesasne Mohawk land claim in New York. It approves the transfer of disputed lands, rights‑of‑way, and easements identified in several related lawsuits, and it formally recognizes certain tribal lands as Indian Country. The agreement involves the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, New York State, local counties and towns, and the New York Power Authority.

Key Provisions

  • Ratifies the Settlement Agreement between the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, New York State, local counties and towns, and the New York Power Authority to resolve the land claim.
  • Approves any land, right‑of‑way, or easement transfers that are part of three specific court cases involving the Canadian Saint Regis Band of Mohawk Indians and the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe.
  • Designates land owned by the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe within the defined Settlement Acquisition Areas as Indian Country, subject to the terms of the Settlement Agreement.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions
SenateCommittee Latest Action

Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.

June 3, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

December 15, 2025

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

December 15, 2025

SenateCommittee

Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.

June 3, 2026

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in SenateIssued December 15, 2025

II

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 3475

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

December 15, 2025

Mrs. Gillibrand introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs

A BILL

To authorize, ratify, and confirm the Agreement of Settlement and Compromise to Resolve the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim in the State of New York, and for other purposes.

1.

Agreement and transfers authorized, ratified and confirmed

The following are hereby authorized, ratified, and confirmed:

(1)

The Agreement of Settlement and Compromise to Resolve the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim in the State of New York (hereafter in this Act referred to as the Settlement Agreement), entered into by the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, the State of New York, the Counties of Franklin and Saint Lawrence, New York, the Towns of Fort Covington and Bombay, New York, and the New York Power Authority.

(2)

Any transfer of land, right-of-way, or easement that is the subject of the claims in the Canadian Saint Regis Band of Mohawk Indians v. New York et al. (82–CV–783); the Canadian Saint Regis Band of Mohawk Indians v. New York et al. (82–CV–1114); and the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, by the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Counciland the People of the Longhouse at Akwesasne, by Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs v. The State of New York, et al. (89–CV–829).

2.

Lands owned by Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe within settlement acquisition areas

The following shall be Indian Country as defined in section 1151(a) of title 18, United States Code, subject to the terms, conditions, and limitations of the Settlement Agreement:

(1)

Land owned on the effective date of the Settlement Agreement by the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe within the Settlement Acquisition Areas, as defined in the Settlement Agreement.

(2)

Land acquired by the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe within the Settlement Acquisition Areas after the effective date of the Settlement Agreement.