Pechanga land transfer bill heads to Senate

A bill to transfer 1,178 acres of federal land to the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians passed the House on Monday.

H.R.2963 now goes to the Senate for consideration. It doesn't have a sponsor there though Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) is said to be working on it.

The bill transfers the land from the Bureau of Land Management to the tribe. The bill states the land "may be used only for the protection, preservation, and maintenance of the archaeological, cultural, and wildlife resources" but doesn't outright mention a gaming prohibition.

The bill was one of seven Indian bills passed by unanimous consent in the House on Monday.

Get the Story:
Plan has Pechanga receiving U.S. land (The San Diego Union-Tribune 8/1)
House approves bill that would give Pechanga tribe 1,178 acres (The Riverside Press-Enterprise 8/1)
pwpwd

Get the Bill:
H.R.2693

Relevant Links:
Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians - http://pechanga-nsn.gov

Related Stories
House passes slew of Indian legislation (8/1)
Rep. Issa introduces Pechanga land-into-trust bill (1/5)
Senate panel to consider Pechanga land transfer (03/29)
Bill to add land to Pechanga Reservation passes (11/16)
Bill would add 991 acres to Pechanga Reservation (11/15)
Bill would transfer land to Pechanga Band (08/26)