S. 3475 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Dec 15, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summarySettles Akwesasne Mohawk land claim in New York
This bill approves a settlement agreement that resolves a long-standing land claim by the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe in northern New York. The agreement was negotiated between the tribe, the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, New York State, two counties, two towns, and the New York Power Authority. As part of the deal, the tribe regains land rights and access to land, receives tuition assistance for tribal members at certain colleges, and gets annual payments from the power authority.
How it affects you
This primarily affects members of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, who gain restored land rights, educational support, and financial payments. It also affects residents of Franklin and Saint Lawrence Counties and the towns of Fort Covington and Bombay, where the settlement terms apply. Most other people won't experience direct changes from this agreement.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Dec 15, 2025)
This bill recognizes and settles the Akwesasne land claim in northern New York. (Akwesasne is a Mohawk territory that extends into the United States and Canada, specifically New York, Ontario, and Quebec.)
The bill authorizes, ratifies, and confirms a specified settlement agreement entered into by the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe (SRMT), the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, the State of New York, Franklin and Saint Lawrence Counties in New York, the towns of Fort Covington and Bombay in New York, and the New York Power Authority. (Among its provisions, the settlement agreement restores land rights and provides access to land to SRMT, provides tuition assistance for tribal members to certain postsecondary institutions, and requires the New York Power Authority to make annual payments to SRMT.)
Additionally, the bill authorizes, ratifies, and confirms any transfer of land, right-of-way, or easement that is the subject of claims in specified court cases.
The bill also recognizes as Indian country any land owned or subsequently acquired by SRMT within the settlement acquisition areas. (The term Indian country , for purposes of criminal jurisdiction, generally refers to all lands within a tribal reservation, dependent Indian communities, and tribal allotments.)
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 SessionS. 3475
A BILL
A bill to authorize, ratify, and confirm the Agreement of Settlement and Compromise to Resolve the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim in the State of New York, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY) · Introduced Dec 15, 2025 · Native Americans · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jun 3, 2026: “Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.”