Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act
This bill places approximately 40 acres of the historic 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre site in South Dakota under the joint ownership and protection of the Oglala Sioux and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribes. The land becomes part of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, making it exempt from state and local taxes and barring it from being sold without approval from both the tribes and Congress. Under a mutual tribal agreement recognized by the bill, the tribes can manage the site without federal interference, commercial casino gambling is prohibited, and existing utility easements remain intact.
What this bill touches.
Who it helps · who it burdens.
Who it helps
- Oglala Sioux TribeGains restricted fee ownership (jointly with the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe) over approximately 40 acres of the Wounded Knee Massacre site, placing the land within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation under the tribe's civil and criminal jurisdiction, exempt from state and local taxes, and free from Interior Department approval for uses under their 2022 covenant (Sec. 2(1), Sec. 3(a)(1)).
- Cheyenne River Sioux TribeGains restricted fee ownership (jointly with the Oglala Sioux Tribe) over approximately 40 acres of the Wounded Knee Massacre site, protected from state and local taxation and alienation without Congressional approval, and usable under their 2022 covenant without Interior Department approval (Sec. 2(1), Sec. 3(a)(1)).
- Holders of existing easements and utility agreements on the landExisting encumbrances, rights-of-way, restrictions, easements of record, and utility service agreements on the property are explicitly preserved and mandated to be assigned by the Secretary within 365 days (Sec. 3(a)(2), Sec. 3(b)(3)).
Who it burdens
- Department of the InteriorRequired within 365 days of enactment to complete all administrative actions, legal documentation, and survey corrections to place the land into restricted fee status, as well as assign existing utility and service agreements (Sec. 3(a)).
- State and local taxing authoritiesProhibited from taxing the approximately 40 acres of land once placed into restricted fee status (Sec. 2(1)(D)).
- Oglala Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux TribeRestricted from using the 40 acres for casino gambling or any other gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, restricted to uses allowed under their 2022 covenant, and barred from selling or transferring the land without the approval of Congress (Sec. 2(1)(C), Sec. 3(b)(1), Sec. 3(b)(2), Sec. 3(b)(4)).
The provisions, in plain language.
Show all 5 provisions
Requires the Department of the Interior within 365 days to complete all actions to place approximately 40 acres of the Wounded Knee Massacre site into restricted fee status owned by the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, making the land part of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, subject to Oglala Sioux tribal jurisdiction, and exempt from state and local taxes.
Subjects the land to federal Indian country laws and bars any sale or transfer of the property without the approval of both Congress and the tribes.
Restricts the use of the property exclusively to purposes allowed under the October 21, 2022 covenant between the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, without requiring Interior Department review or approval.
Bars the land from being used for casino gambling or any other gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
Maintains all existing private and municipal easements, rights-of-way, and utility service agreements on the property and directs the Department of the Interior to assign them within 365 days.
Requires the Department of the Interior within 365 days to complete all actions to place approximately 40 acres of the Wounded Knee Massacre site into restricted fee status owned by the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, making the land part of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, subject to Oglala Sioux tribal jurisdiction, and exempt from state and local taxes.
Subjects the land to federal Indian country laws and bars any sale or transfer of the property without the approval of both Congress and the tribes.
Restricts the use of the property exclusively to purposes allowed under the October 21, 2022 covenant between the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, without requiring Interior Department review or approval.
Bars the land from being used for casino gambling or any other gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
How your members of Congress line up
How members voted on Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act.
Recorded roll calls on this bill, most recent first. Open one to see each member's position.
How it moved.
Show all 20 actions
- Became Public Law No: 119-61.
- Signed by President.
- Presented to President.
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8685)
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 177.
- Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 119-72.
- Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 416 - 0 (Roll no. 22). (text: 1/21/2025 CR H246-247)
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 416 - 0 (Roll no. 22). (text: 1/21/2025 CR H246-247)
- Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H285)
- 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.
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 165.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H246-248)
- Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Introduced in House
- Became Public Law No: 119-61.
- Signed by President.
- Presented to President.
- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8685)
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 119-72.
- Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 416 - 0 (Roll no. 22). (text: 1/21/2025 CR H246-247)
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 416 - 0 (Roll no. 22). (text: 1/21/2025 CR H246-247)
- Introduced in House
Read it for yourself.
Sources & provenance
- Public Law 119-61
- primary source →
- primary source →
Cite this page
Civic Herald. “Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act (H.R. 165, 119th Congress).” https://civicherald.app/bills/119-hr-165. Congress.gov record as of Jul 13, 2026.