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HR 984 115th Congress House Native Americans Federal-Indian relations Gambling Indian lands and resources rights Indian social and development programs Land transfers Property rights Virginia

Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2017

Introduced: February 7, 2017 Introduced by: Wittman, Robert J. Republican · Virginia See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 21 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 29, 2018
Signed by President.
Jan 29, 2018
Became Public Law No: 115-121.
Jan 17, 2018
Presented to President.
Jan 12, 2018
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Jan 11, 2018
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S153)
Jan 11, 2018
Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
Jan 11, 2018
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
Jan 11, 2018
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S153)
Sep 13, 2017
Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
May 18, 2017
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
May 17, 2017
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 984.
May 17, 2017
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
May 17, 2017
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4251-4257)
May 17, 2017
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H4251-4257)
May 17, 2017
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4266)
May 17, 2017
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
May 17, 2017
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4251-4259)
May 17, 2017
Mr. Wittman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Feb 23, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs.
Feb 7, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Feb 7, 2017
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House passed version is repeated here.)

Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2017

TITLE I--CHICKAHOMINY INDIAN TRIBE

(Sec. 103) This bill extends federal recognition to the Chickahominy Tribe. The tribe and its members are made eligible for the services and benefits provided by the federal government to federally recognized Indian tribes, without regard to the existence of a reservation for the tribe. The bill establishes the service area of the tribe.

(Sec. 104) The bill sets forth requirements for the tribe regarding its membership roll, governing documents, and governing body.

(Sec. 106) The Department of the Interior, upon the request of the tribe, must take certain land owned by the tribe in Virginia into trust for the benefit of the tribe, to be considered part of the tribe's reservation.

The bill prohibits the tribe from conducting gaming activities.

(Sec. 107) The bill does not affect the hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, or water rights of the tribe or its members.

TITLE II--CHICKAHOMINY INDIAN TRIBE--EASTERN DIVISION

(Sec. 203) This bill extends federal recognition to the Chickahominy Indian Tribe--Eastern Division. The tribe and its members are made eligible for the services and benefits provided by the federal government to federally recognized tribes, without regard to the existence of a reservation for the tribe. The bill establishes the service area of the tribe.

(Sec. 204) The bill sets forth requirements for the tribe regarding its membership roll, governing documents, and governing body.

(Sec. 206) The Department of the Interior, upon the request of the tribe, must take certain land owned by the tribe in Virginia into trust for the benefit of the tribe, to be considered part of the tribe's reservation.

The bill prohibits the tribe from conducting gaming activities.

(Sec. 207) The bill does not affect the hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, or water rights of the tribe or its members.

TITLE III--UPPER MATTAPONI TRIBE

(Sec. 303) This bill extends federal recognition to the Upper Mattaponi Tribe. The tribe and its members are made eligible for the services and benefits provided by the federal government to federally recognized tribes, without regard to the existence of a reservation for the tribe. The bill establishes the service area of the tribe.

(Sec. 304) The bill sets forth requirements for the tribe regarding its membership roll, governing documents, and governing body.

(Sec. 306) The Department of the Interior, upon the request of the tribe, must take certain land owned by the tribe in Virginia into trust for the benefit of the tribe, to be considered part of the tribe's reservation.

The bill prohibits the tribe from conducting gaming activities.

(Sec. 307) The bill does not affect the hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, or water rights of the tribe or its members.

TITLE IV--RAPPAHANNOCK TRIBE, INC.

(Sec. 403) This bill extends federal recognition to the Rappahannock Tribe, Inc. The tribe and its members are made eligible for the services and benefits provided by the federal government to federally recognized tribes, without regard to the existence of a reservation for the tribe. The bill establishes the service area of the tribe.

(Sec. 404) The bill sets forth requirements for the tribe regarding its membership roll, governing documents, and governing body.

(Sec. 406) The Department of the Interior, upon the request of the tribe, must take certain land owned by the tribe in Virginia into trust for the benefit of the tribe, to be considered part of the tribe's reservation.

The bill prohibits the tribe from conducting gaming activities.

(Sec. 407) The bill does not affect the hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, or water rights of the tribe or its members.

TITLE V--MONACAN INDIAN NATION

(Sec. 503) This bill extends federal recognition to the Monacan Indian Nation. The tribe and its members are made eligible for the services and benefits provided by the federal government to federally recognized tribes, without regard to the existence of a reservation for the tribe. The bill establishes the service area of the tribe.

(Sec. 504) The bill sets forth requirements for the tribe regarding its membership roll, governing documents, and governing body.

(Sec. 506) The Department of the Interior, upon the request of the tribe, must take certain land owned by the tribe in Virginia into trust for the benefit of the tribe, to be considered part of the tribe's reservation.

The bill prohibits the tribe from conducting gaming activities.

(Sec. 507) The bill does not affect the hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, or water rights of the tribe or its members.

TITLE VI--NANSEMOND INDIAN TRIBE

(Sec. 603) This bill extends federal recognition to the Nansemond Indian Tribe. The tribe and its members are made eligible for the services and benefits provided by the federal government to federally recognized tribes, without regard to the existence of a reservation for the tribe. The bill establishes the service area of the tribe.

(Sec. 604) The bill sets forth requirements for the tribe regarding its membership roll, governing documents, and governing body.

(Sec. 606) The Department of the Interior, upon the request of the tribe, must take certain land owned by the tribe in Virginia into trust for the benefit of the tribe, to be considered part of the tribe's reservation.

The bill prohibits the tribe from conducting gaming activities.

(Sec. 607) The bill does not affect the hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, or water rights of the tribe or its members.

TITLE VII--EMINENT DOMAIN

(Sec. 701) Eminent domain may not be used to acquire lands for a tribe recognized under this bill.

What's happening now January 29, 2018

Became Public Law No: 115-121.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 691 Identical bill Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2017
 Bill text 5 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 2
D
Beyer, Donald S.
Virginia · Feb 7, 2017
 D
Scott, Robert C. "Bobby"
Virginia · Feb 7, 2017
Taylor, Scott
· Feb 7, 2017
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 984: Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2017. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-984/
MLA
"H.R. 984: Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2017." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-984/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 984, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-984/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 984: Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2017](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-984/)
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