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Mashantucket Pequot Indian Claims Settlement Act

Public Law 98-134 · S. 1499 · 98th Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Oct 18, 1983 · Native Americans

Sponsor: Sen. Lowell Weicker (R-CT)

Cosponsors (1): Sen. Christopher Dodd

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.

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Summary

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

Mashantucket Pequot Indian Claims Settlement Act - Establishes the Mashantucket Pequot Settlement Fund (the Fund) in the Treasury and directs the Secretary of the Interior to act as trustee for the benefit of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe (the Tribe).

Directs the Secretary to spend, upon the Tribe's request, the principal and income accruing to the Fund. Specifies the amounts available to the Secretary for acquisition of private settlement lands. Directs the Tribe to submit economic development plans subject to the Secretary's approval, and establishes guidelines for the disbursement of trust funds under such plans. Establishes guidelines reducing the Government's trust responsibility to the Tribe as the Fund is disbursed.

Specifies lands to be held by the United States as trustee. Provides formulae for land acquisition and condemnation proceedings by the Secretary. Deems transfers of specified private settlement lands as involuntary conversions for Internal Revenue Code purposes.

Authorizes appropriations for the Fund.

Approves transfers of land or natural resources executed by the Tribe prior to the Act. Extinguishes Tribal or Indian claims to such lands based upon rights, interests, or aboriginal title. Directs the Secretary to publish notice in the Federal Register when the statutory appropriation has been deposited into the Fund. Declares the extinguishment provisions effective upon such appropriation.

Declares the Tribe's reservation is Indian country, subject to State jurisdiction under specified Federal law.

Sets limitations on actions regarding the constitutionality of the Act. Vests exclusive original jurisdiction over such actions in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. Permits removal from State courts to such District Court.

Permits the Tribe to lease lands for any term of years to the Mashantucket Pequot Housing Authority or to its successor in interest.

Extends Federal recognition to the Tribe. Makes the Tribe and its members eligible for all Federal services and benefits furnished to federally recognized Indians. Subjects the Tribe to generally applicable Federal laws.

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. Oct 18, 1983Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 98-134.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Oct 6, 1983PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 4, 1983FloorFloor · Passed House by Voice Vote.
  5. FloorFloor · Called up by House by Unanimous Consent.
  6. Sep 30, 1983FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
  7. Sep 14, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Indian Affairs Committee
  8. Jul 28, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Indian Affairs Committee
  9. Jul 19, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Senate Indian Affairs Committee
  10. Jun 20, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Indian Affairs Committee
  11. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
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.