Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2017
Public Law 115-121 · H.R. 984 · 115th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Donald Trump (R) on Jan 29, 2018 · Native Americans
Sponsor: Rep. Robert Wittman (R-VA-1)
Cosponsors (5): Rep. Donald Beyer, Rep. Bobby Scott,
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- 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.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
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.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Natural Resources Committee · House · referred toSubcommittee: Indian and Insular Affairs Subcommittee
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Related bills
1 bill the Library of Congress relates to this one.
S. 691Identical bill
Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2017
Data notes
Related bills are identified by the Congressional Research Service, the House and the Senate: companion and identical bills, bills with similar text, bills that were folded into this law, and rules that brought it to the floor. A bill that is itself a public law in this site’s data links here; the others link to Congress.gov.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 18 actions.
- Jan 29, 2018Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 115-121.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Jan 17, 2018FloorFloor · Presented to President.
- Jan 12, 2018FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Jan 11, 2018FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
- CommitteeCommittee · Senate Committee on Indian Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- Sep 13, 2017CommitteeCommittee · Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- May 18, 2017CommitteeCommittee · Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
- May 17, 2017FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · Considered as unfinished business.
- FloorFloor · 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.
- FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 984.
- FloorFloor · Considered under suspension of the rules.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Wittman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- Feb 23, 2017CommitteeCommittee · Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs.
- Feb 7, 2017CommitteeCommittee · Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in House
Data notes
Every action the Library of Congress lists for the bill, from introduction to signing, plus the dated committee hearings. The source lists many steps twice (the chamber’s own entry and the Library of Congress copy, or a presidential and a became-law entry with the same words); those are shown once. Amendments are listed in their own section.
Amendments
No amendments to this bill are on record.
Data notes
Amendments offered to this bill in either chamber, as the Library of Congress records them: each with a status read from its last recorded step: agreed to, rejected, withdrawn, ruled out of order, fell with another amendment, or offered with no vote recorded (most Senate amendments are only ever offered). The wording of each amendment is the source’s. Amendments to amendments and amendments to other bills are not listed.
Official record
The bill’s full text is on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.