H.R. 165 · Where this bill is now
Became law
Public Law 119-61, Dec 19, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryDesignates Wounded Knee land as tribal memorial
This act transfers about 40 acres of land in South Dakota to the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. The land would be held as a memorial and sacred site, with restrictions that prevent the tribes from selling it or using it for commercial development or gaming activities.
How it affects you
This change doesn't directly affect most Americans. For members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, it means gaining control of land they've identified as a memorial and sacred site, though with limits on how they can use it.
Read the official summary (Public Law, Dec 19, 2025)
Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act
This act directs the Department of the Interior to complete all actions necessary to place approximately 40 acres of land in Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota, into restricted fee status for the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. Restricted fee status refers to land that is owned by a tribe or tribal member but is subject to restrictions by the United States against alienation (i.e., sale or transfer) or encumbrance (e.g., liens, leases, or rights-of-way) by operation of law.
The act requires the land to be held and maintained as a memorial and sacred site, as outlined by the document titled Covenant Between the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and dated October 21, 2022. Further, it prohibits commercial development and gaming activity on the land.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 165
AN ACT
Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act
Sponsor: Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD-At Large) · Introduced Jan 3, 2025 · Native Americans · 5 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Dec 19, 2025: “Became Public Law No: 119-61.”
How Congress voted
Official roll callsHouse · On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass · Jan 22, 2025
Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass Passed 416–0
| Party | Yes | No | Didn’t vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 200 | 0 | 15 |
| Republicans | 216 | 0 | 2 |
Congress votes on whole bills and amendments, not on single sections.
Sections
The wording of this bill hasn’t changed across its 5 official versions.