Illinois Miami Tribe Settlement

Summary#

This bill gives the United States Court of Federal Claims the power to hear a land claim by the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma based on the Treaty of Grouseland (August 21, 1805). The court may decide that claim without being blocked by statutes of limitations or delay-based defenses. The Miami Tribe must file that claim within 1 year after the bill becomes law or the court’s special jurisdiction ends. Except for any claim the tribe files under this bill, all other claims to land in Illinois by the Miami Tribe or by its members, descendants, or predecessors in interest are extinguished.

What it means for you#

• If you are a member or descendant of the Miami Tribe: the tribe has a one-year window to file a land claim in the Court of Federal Claims under the Treaty of Grouseland. If the tribe files, that specific claim can be heard despite time limits that might otherwise apply.
• If you own or live on land in Illinois: except for a claim filed under this bill, other claims by the Miami Tribe or related persons to land in Illinois would be extinguished. That means most tribal land claims in Illinois would no longer be available unless filed under the bill’s special process.
• If no claim is filed within one year: the Court of Federal Claims loses the special jurisdiction created by this bill, and the extinguishment provision still applies to other claims.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on costs, appropriations, or budget effects.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information on proponents' arguments or stated reasons beyond the bill text.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information on opponents' arguments or stated objections beyond the bill text.