H.R. 1499: To amend the Grand Ronde Reservation Act to address the hunting, fishing, trapping, and animal gathering rights of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community, and for other purposes.

This bill aims to amend the Grand Ronde Reservation Act, specifically addressing the hunting, fishing, trapping, and animal gathering rights of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community in Oregon. The key points of the bill include:

Definitions

• Consent Decree: This refers to a legal judgment from 1987 regarding the rights of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community against the State of Oregon.
• Grand Ronde Hunting and Fishing Agreement: This is an agreement established in 1986 that permanently defines the hunting and fishing rights of the Tribe and its members.
• Indian Tribe: Defined according to existing federal law.

Hunting, Fishing, Trapping, and Animal Gathering Rights

• The Grand Ronde Hunting and Fishing Agreement will remain in effect until it is replaced or changed by new agreements between the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community and the State of Oregon.
• Any amendment or new agreement can only be made with mutual consent from both the Tribe and the State.
• New or amended agreements cannot:
  • Change the existing rights of the Confederated Tribes or other tribes.
  • Prevent the State from making separate agreements with other tribes regarding species management.
  • Be used in court to modify tribal rights.
• All rights derived from these agreements will solely come from the authority given by the State of Oregon.

Judicial Review

If there are court actions concerning changes or disputes related to the Consent Decree, the federal court in Oregon will evaluate these without allowing previously decided issues to limit the review process.

Effect of the Bill

The bill clarifies that nothing within it will impact, modify, or negate the rights of any Indian Tribe, including existing treaty rights.

Relevant Companies

None found