Resolving the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim in the State of New York

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. CRANK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2916) 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.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 2916

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 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 Council and the People of the Longhouse at Akwesasne, by Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs v. The State of New York, et al. (89-CV-829). SEC. 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.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. CRANK. 2916, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2916, to authorize, ratify, and confirm the Agreement of Settlement and Compromise to resolve the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim in the State of New York, introduced by the gentlewoman from New York, Congresswoman Stefanik.

The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe is located on the border of New York and Canada along the St. Lawrence River. Following the Revolutionary War, the Seven Nations of Canada and the State of New York signed the 1796 Treaty, which gave the Tribe its reservation.

In 1824 and 1825, New York acquired land from the Tribe without the Federal Government's approval, violating the Non-Intercourse Act, which reserves to the United States the exclusive right to acquire Indian lands and prohibits conveyance without Federal approval.

After decades of court proceedings, a 2022 Northern District of New York ruling determined that the State of New York's 1825 purchase of land violated the Non-Intercourse Act. Mediation between the parties resumed and culminated in a settlement signed earlier this year.

The settlement would return approximately 3,500 acres of land to reservation status and would allow the Tribe to acquire up to 14,000 additional acres from willing sellers. Additional provisions in the settlement include waived tuition and mandatory fees for Akwesasne Mohawk students attending State University of New York institutions and preferred-rate power from the New York Power Authority.

The settlement requires no Federal monetary contribution and clearly defines the reservation's boundaries.

Negotiated settlements related to Indian land claims under the Non- Intercourse Act require congressional approval, and that is why we are here today.

H.R. 2916 would authorize, ratify, and confirm the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim Settlement Agreement and bring final resolution to a longstanding claim.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. CRANK. Stefanik), the lead sponsor of this bill.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. CRANK. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2916 gives the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe clarity on their reservation land and resolves a centuries-old violation of the Non-Intercourse Act. This settlement is long overdue and widely agreed upon. It is up to Congress to take the final steps and authorize the settlement.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source