Republican amendment could bar land-into-trust applications

A Republican lawmaker has proposed a legislative rider that could bar the approval of land-into-trust applications for at least a year.

Rep. James Lankford (R-Okahoma) wants to attach the rider to H.R.2584, the Interior appropriations bill. It states:
LIMITATION OF FUNDS RELATED TO PUBLIC LAND

Sec. __. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to increase the net number of acres of Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior.

The rider doesn't specifically mention the land-into-trust process but the National Indian Gaming Association says it will "immediately halt all land into trust applications" in a memo to tribal leaders.

H.R.2584 is still under consideration in the House.

Get the Story:
Republicans Propose Scorched-Earth Land-Into-Trust Legislation (Indian Country Today 8/3)

Supreme Court Decision:
Syllabus | Opinion [Thomas] | Concurrence [Breyer] | Dissent [Stevens] | Concurrence/Dissent [Souter]

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