Sarah Elfreth, MD
“I want the House to pass this bill. The bill allows the Miami Tribe to ask the government for money for past land problems. The bill does not allow the tribe to get land back or sue landowners. The tribe has one year to ask for money. Then they can't ask about this land again. I want my colleagues to support this bill.”
“I want Congress to pass this bill. It gives the Miami Tribe one year to take its land claim in Illinois to a federal court. The United States broke an 1805 treaty by giving away tribal land to settlers, which created confusion for current landowners. This bill gives the tribe its day in court to resolve the dispute.”
“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, S. 550 would provide the U.S. Court of Federal Claims with jurisdiction over the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma's land claim in east central Illinois. Prior to being forcibly removed from their homeland, the Miami Tribe resided in the Great Lakes region. In 1805, the Miami Tribe, the Eel River Band, and the Wea signed the Treaty of Grouseland with the United States. The 1805 treaty provided that land south of the Great Lakes in the Wabash River watershed were not ceded and the United States would not purchase lands without the consent of the signatories. However, the United States later violated this treaty when lands were placed into the public domain and parcels were transferred to settlers without extinguishing the Tribe's title to the land. This has resulted in difficulties and confusion with the current landowners as the Miami Tribe maintains a claim to the title. S. 550 would allow the Tribe 1 year to bring their claim before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and would extinguish any other of the Tribe's claims to the land. The bill provides the Tribe with a path forward to get their day in court but does not dictate an ultimate outcome. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.”
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, S. 550 would provide the U.S. Court of Federal Claims with jurisdiction over the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma's land claim in east central Illinois. Prior to being forcibly removed from their homeland, the Miami Tribe resided in the Great Lakes region. In 1805, the Miami Tribe, the Eel River Band, and the Wea signed the Treaty of Grouseland with the United States. The 1805 treaty provided that land south of the Great Lakes in the Wabash River watershed were not ceded and the United States would not purchase lands without the consent of the signatories. However, the United States later violated this treaty when lands were placed into the public domain and parcels were transferred to settlers without extinguishing the Tribe's title to the land. This has resulted in difficulties and confusion with the current landowners as the Miami Tribe maintains a claim to the title. S. 550 would allow the Tribe 1 year to bring their claim before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and would extinguish any other of the Tribe's claims to the land. The bill provides the Tribe with a path forward to get their day in court but does not dictate an ultimate outcome. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.