Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act | ChamberLight

PASSED HOUSE· 119TH CONGRESS

House BillHR 2388Federal-Indian relationsLand use and conservation

Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act

INTRO MAR 26· LAST ACTION MAY 20

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LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

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Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed House

Passed Senate

Conference

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Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe and its members would be most directly affected. They would gain control and management authority over approximately 1,082 acres of land, which can be used for cultural, economic, and environmental purposes, expanding their reservation base.

Indirectly, residents of Washington State, especially those near Olympic National Park and the Elwha River, could be affected. This includes people interested in environmental conservation, as the bill reinforces specific protections for the Elwha River, continuing the broader ecosystem restoration efforts in the area.

KEY PROVISIONS

5AI-extracted

PROVISION 01

Transfers approximately 1,082.63 acres of federal land in Washington State to be held in trust by the United States for the benefit of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe.

This provision expands the Tribe's land base and grants them greater control over ancestral territory, which is vital for their sovereignty and community development.

PROVISION 02

Designates the newly transferred land as part of the Lower Elwha Indian Reservation.

This ensures the land falls under tribal jurisdiction and governance, solidifying the Tribe's authority over its use and management.

PROVISION 03

Prohibits the use of any of the newly acquired trust land for gaming (gambling) purposes under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

This restriction defines the intended use of the land, focusing it away from commercial gambling operations and towards other tribal or environmental purposes.

PROVISION 04

Requires a portion of the Elwha River on the transferred land to be managed in accordance with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, with certain modifications.

This provision ensures continued environmental protection and management for the Elwha River, supporting ongoing ecosystem restoration goals.

PROVISION 05

States that the Act does not affect any existing treaty rights of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe.

This provision protects and affirms the Tribe's established legal rights, ensuring the land transfer does not diminish their sovereignty or resources.

SPONSORSHIP

1 + 0

ACTION TIMELINE

24 EVENTS

MAY 20

Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

COMMITTEE

DEC 10

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

SENATE · INTROREFERRAL

DEC 10

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

SENATE · INTROREFERRAL

DEC 9

Mr. Crank moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

HOUSE · FLOOR

BILL INFO

TypeHouse Bill

NumberHR 2388

Congress119th

StatusPassed House

IntroducedMar 26, 2025

Last actionMay 20, 2026

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PASSED HOUSE· 119TH CONGRESS · NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED MAR 26, 2025

House BillHR 2388Federal-Indian relationsLand use and conservation

Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act

INTRODUCED MAR 26, 2025· LAST ACTION MAY 20, 2026

PASSAGE CHANCES

—%

READING

3 min

COSPONSORS

COMPLEXITY

Moderate

Call my reps

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 4 OF 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed House

Passed Senate

Conference

To President

Became Law

Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

KEY PROVISIONS

AI-extracted

high

Transfers approximately 1,082.63 acres of federal land in Washington State to be held in trust by the United States for the benefit of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe.

This provision expands the Tribe's land base and grants them greater control over ancestral territory, which is vital for their sovereignty and community development.

med

Designates the newly transferred land as part of the Lower Elwha Indian Reservation.

This ensures the land falls under tribal jurisdiction and governance, solidifying the Tribe's authority over its use and management.

med

Prohibits the use of any of the newly acquired trust land for gaming (gambling) purposes under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

This restriction defines the intended use of the land, focusing it away from commercial gambling operations and towards other tribal or environmental purposes.

med

Requires a portion of the Elwha River on the transferred land to be managed in accordance with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, with certain modifications.

This provision ensures continued environmental protection and management for the Elwha River, supporting ongoing ecosystem restoration goals.

med

States that the Act does not affect any existing treaty rights of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe.

This provision protects and affirms the Tribe's established legal rights, ensuring the land transfer does not diminish their sovereignty or resources.

DEADLINES & DATES

AI-extracted

An AI model extracted this from the bill’s official record and can make mistakes. Check the official text ↗ (opens in new tab)

As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act

The Secretary of the Interior must conduct a survey to define the boundaries of the transferred land.

GLOSSARY

AI-written

Land into Trust: A process where the U.S. government takes legal ownership of land and holds it for the benefit of a Native American tribe. The tribe is the beneficial owner and manages the land.
Reservation: An area of land set aside by the U.S. government for Native American tribes to live on and govern themselves.
Secretary of the Interior: The head of the U U.S. Department of the Interior, which manages federal lands, natural resources, and programs related to Native American tribes.
Indian Gaming Regulatory Act: A federal law that provides a framework for regulating gaming (gambling) on Native American lands.
Treaty Rights: Rights guaranteed to Native American tribes through treaties signed with the U.S. government, often related to land, hunting, fishing, and self-governance.
Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act: A specific federal law aimed at restoring the ecosystem and fisheries of the Elwha River in Washington State, including dam removal.
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act: A federal law that protects certain rivers and their surrounding land for their outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values.

ACTION TIMELINE

24 EVENTS

MAY 20

Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

COMMITTEE

DEC 10, 25

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

INTROREFERRAL

DEC 10, 25

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

INTROREFERRAL

DEC 9, 25

Mr. Crank moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

FLOOR

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Committee Referrals

Natural Resources CommitteeReferred

Sep 15, 2025

house

Related Hearings

Business meeting to consider S.236, to amend the Act of August 9, 1955 (commonly known as the "Long-Term Leasing Act"), to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land in the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation and land held in trust for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), S.1513, to take certain Federal land in the State of Washington into trust for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, S.2098, to provide for the conveyance of certain property to the Southcentral Foundation located in Anchorage, Alaska, S.2735, to take certain Federal land in the State of California into trust for the benefit of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, H.R.681, to amend the Act of August 9, 1955 (commonly known as the "Long-Term Leasing Act"), to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land held in trust for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), H.R.2302, to take certain Federal land in the State of California into trust for the benefit of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, H.R.2388, to take certain Federal land in the State of Washington into trust for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, and H.R.3620, to provide for the conveyance of certain property to the Southcentral Foundation located in Anchorage, Alaska; to be immediately followed by an oversight hearing to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2027 for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service.

Indian Affairs Committee (senate)May 20, 2026

Video

Full Committee Markup on: • H.R. 131 (Rep. Boebert), “Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act” • H.R. 183 (Rep. McClintock), “Law Enforcement Officer Recreation Pass Act” • H.R. 261 (Rep. Carter of GA), “Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025” (Amendments to H.R. 261 must be drafted to the amendment in the nature of a substitute, attached to this notice) • H.R. 410 (Rep. Begich), “Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment Extension Act of 2025” • H.R. 504 (Rep. Gimenez), “Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act” • H.R. 655 (Rep. Bentz), “The Dalles Watershed Development Act” • H.R. 725 (Rep. Downing), “Crow Revenue Act” (Amendments to H.R. 725 must be drafted to the amendment in the nature of a substitute, attached to this notice) • H.R. 1276 (Rep. Comer), To remove restrictions from a parcel of land in Paducah, Kentucky. • H.R. 1729 (Rep. Neguse), “Bolts Ditch Act” • H.R. 1917 (Rep. Dingell), “Great Lakes Mass Marking Program Act of 2025” • H.R. 2250 (Rep. DelBene), “National Landslide Preparedness Act Reauthorization Act of 2025” • H.R. 2316 (Rep. Hurd), “Wetlands Conservation and Access Improvement Act of 2025” • H.R. 2388 (Rep. Randall), “Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act” • H.R. 2389 (Rep. Randall), “Quinault Indian Nation Land Transfer Act” • H.R. 2556 (Rep. Hunt), “CORE Act of 2025” (Amendments to H.R. 2556 must be drafted to the amendment in the nature of a substitute, attached to this notice) • H.R. 2876 (Rep. Moore of UT), “University of Utah Research Park Act” • H.R. 3168 (Rep. Valadao), “National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2025” • H.R. 3176 (Rep. Begich), To amend the John D. Dingell, Jr Conservation Management, and Recreation Act to reauthorize the National volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System. • H.R. 3179 (Rep. Babin), To rename the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge located in the State of Texas as the "Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge". • H.R. 3937 (Rep. Tiffany), “Wabeno Economic Development Act”

Natural Resources Committee (house)Jun 25, 2025

Video

Legislative Hearing on: H.R. 2130 (Rep. Johnson of SD), “Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025” H.R. 2388 (Rep. Randall), “Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act” H.R. 2815 (Rep. Begich), “Cape Fox Land Entitlement Finalization Act of 2025” H.R. 3073 (Rep. Maloy), “Shivwits Band of Paiutes Jurisdictional Clarity Act”

Indian and Insular Affairs Subcommittee (house)May 21, 20257 witnesses

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Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

SPONSORSHIP

ACTION TIMELINE

BILL INFO

READER REACTIONS

Discussion

Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

DEADLINES & DATES

GLOSSARY

ACTION TIMELINE

SPONSORS

READER REACTIONS

What do you think?

Discussion

MORE INFORMATION

Committee Referrals

Related Legislation

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