S550-119

What This Bill Does

Gives the U.S. Court of Federal Claims jurisdiction to hear Miami Tribe of Oklahoma land claims under the 1805 Treaty of Grouseland without applying statutes of limitation, 28 U.S.C. 2501, or any delay-based defense. The special jurisdiction expires one year after enactment unless the Tribe files a covered claim. At the same time, the bill extinguishes every other present or future claim by the Miami Tribe, its members, descendants, or predecessors in interest to land in Illinois.

Who Benefits and How

The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma benefits by receiving a narrow, time-limited federal forum for Treaty of Grouseland land claims that would otherwise likely be barred by limitations and delay defenses. Native American treaty-law attorneys and historical experts may benefit from the need to prepare any claim during the one-year window. Current Illinois landowners, title insurers, lenders, counties, and real estate developers benefit from certainty because all non-Grouseland and future Miami Tribe land claims in Illinois are extinguished.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Miami Tribe members, descendants, and predecessors with Illinois land claims outside the Treaty of Grouseland path permanently lose those claims. The U.S. Court of Federal Claims must handle any filed treaty land litigation. The Tribe must move quickly because the jurisdiction expires after one year if no claim is filed.

Key Provisions

• Grants the U.S. Court of Federal Claims jurisdiction over Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Treaty of Grouseland land claims.
• Waives statutes of limitation, 28 U.S.C. 2501, and all delay-based defenses for those claims.
• Requires the Tribe to file within one year or lose the special jurisdiction.
• Extinguishes all other present and future Miami Tribe-related claims to land in Illinois.
• Limits the settlement framework to land in Illinois.