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Miccosukee Reserved Area Act

Public Law 105-313 · H.R. 3055 · 105th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Oct 30, 1998 · Native Americans

Sponsor: Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL-23)

Cosponsors (4): Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart,

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateUnanimous consent
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.

Miccosukee Reserved Area Act - Terminates a Special Use Permit, issued by the Secretary of the Interior to the Miccosukee Indian Tribe on February 1, 1973, authorizing such Tribe's use of a specified area of the northern portion of Everglades National Park, Florida. Expands the area covered by the former Permit, to be known as the Miccosukee Reserved Area (MRA). Directs the Tribe to govern its own affairs within the MRA as though it were a Federal Indian reservation. Gives the Tribe exclusive use and occupancy over the MRA in perpetuity. Confers Indian Country status on the MRA, with exclusive Federal jurisdiction.

Directs the Tribe to prevent and abate any significant: (1) water quality, quantity, or distribution degradation; (2) propagation of exotic plants or animals outside the MRA; (3) hindrance to public access to Park areas outside the MRA; and (4) cumulative adverse environmental impact on the Park outside the MRA resulting from development or other activities within the MRA. Requires the Tribe to: (1) develop, publish, and implement procedures assuring adequate public notice and opportunity to comment on major tribal actions within the MRA that may have a significant cumulative adverse impact on the Everglades ecosystem; and (2) adopt and comply with water quality standards within the MRA that are at least as protective as those for the Park areas approved under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. Restricts buildings within the MRA to 45 feet or two stories in height, with exceptions for: (1) a structure within the Miccosukee Government Center; and (2) certain public service structures. Authorizes the waiver of such restriction by the Secretary when appropriate. Provides other limitations, including gaming and aviation, within the MRA.

Directs the Secretary and the tribal chairman to reach required agreements under this Act, authorizing the use of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. Provides general authorities, including easements and access rights to Federal agents to monitor tribal compliance with this Act.

States that nothing in this Act shall enhance or diminish current water rights.

Authorizes the Attorney General or the Tribe to bring suit to enforce this Act.

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. 17 actions.

  1. Oct 30, 1998Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 105-313.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Oct 20, 1998PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 15, 1998FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
  5. Oct 12, 1998FloorFloor · The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
  6. FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  7. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
  8. FloorFloor · Mr. Hansen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  9. Sep 11, 1998CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
  10. Jul 22, 1998CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
  11. Jun 11, 1998CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  12. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  13. Nov 28, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  14. Nov 25, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  15. Nov 13, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
  16. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  17. 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.