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Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Act

Public Law 100-420 · H.R. 3679 · 100th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Sep 8, 1988 · Native Americans

Sponsor: Rep. Robert Davis (R-MI-11)

Cosponsors (5): Rep. Bill Schuette,

Passage votes

  • HouseUnanimous consent
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Act - Reaffirms the Federal recognition of, and trust relationship with, the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. Provides that all Federal laws applicable to Indians shall apply to the Band unless they are inconsistent with this Act. Recognizes the Band as an independent tribal entity. Makes the Band and its members eligible for all special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians.

Requires the Band to submit to the Secretary of the Interior for approval its membership roll which shall include only eligible individuals who are not members of any other federally recognized Indian tribe. States eligibility requirements.

Provides that: (1) within one year following the enactment of this Act, the Band's governing body shall propose a governing document and the Secretary shall conduct an election as to the adoption of the proposed document; (2) until the Band adopts and the Secretary approves a governing document, the Band's interim governing document shall be the Lac Vieux Desert Constitution, approved June 18, 1986; and (3) until the Band elects a new governing body under the new governing document, the Band's governing body shall consist of its current Band officers or any new officers selected under the election procedures of the interim governing document.

Authorizes the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community to convey to the United States in trust for the Band all lands located in Gogebic County, Michigan, which on the date of the enactment of this Act are held in trust by the United States for the benefit of the Community. Provides that, upon acceptance of the deed to such lands by the Secretary, such lands shall constitute the reservation of the Band.

Allows the Secretary to place other land into trust for the benefit of the Band. Provides that all such lands located in Gogebic County shall become part of the reservation.

Provides that for purposes of the per capita distribution of funds appropriated and apportioned to the Community in satisfaction of certain judgments awarded the Lake Superior Chippewas and Mississippi Chippewas the Secretary shall accept the tribe's certification of enrolled membership.

Provides that individuals who are or become members of the Band and who are eligible for per capita shares out of funds apportioned to the Keweenaw Bay Indian or Sokaogan Chippewa Community shall continue to be eligible for such per capita payments notwithstanding their relinquishment of their enrollment in either community pursuant to this Act.

Directs the Secretary to call an election within 90 days of receipt of a resolution of the Keweenaw Bay Tribal Council requesting an election for the purpose of amending provisions of the constitution of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community.

Makes any spending authority provided under this Act effective for any fiscal year only to such extent or in such amounts as are provided in advance in appropriation Acts.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 11 actions.

  1. Sep 8, 1988Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 100-420.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Aug 30, 1988PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Aug 10, 1988Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Senate Amendments by Unanimous Consent.
  5. Jul 14, 1988FloorFloor · Passed Senate in lieu of S. 1735 with an amendment by Voice Vote.
  6. May 2, 1988FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
  7. Apr 26, 1988CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
  8. Apr 13, 1988CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
  9. Mar 8, 1988CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by House Natural Resources Committee
  10. Dec 1, 1987CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
  11. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.