Bill > HR1451

This bill establishes a settlement mechanism for the Quapaw Nation related to a legal case (Bear, et al. v. United States) by creating a Special Deposit Account called the Quapaw Bear Settlement Trust Account, which will receive a $137.5 million payment from the U.S. Treasury. The bill outlines a detailed process for distributing these settlement funds, first requiring the Claimants (which include the Quapaw Nation and specific individual members identified in the original legal complaint) to attempt mediation within 45 days of the Act's enactment to agree on a distribution plan. If mediation fails, the bill provides a comprehensive Secretarial Allocation process where the Secretary of the Interior can step in to determine a final distribution plan, including holding a formal hearing and issuing a binding decision within specific timelines. The mediation and allocation processes are designed to be confidential and collaborative, with provisions for the Claimants to mutually agree on a plan at various stages. The bill includes specific procedural safeguards, such as requiring advance submissions of exhibits and proposed decisions, and allows for potential extensions of deadlines if all Claimants unanimously agree. The Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service may be utilized to provide technical support during this process.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Government Affairs

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1451/all-info