Quapaw Tribal Settlement Act of 2025

Senate Bill

S. 630

119th Congress

Quapaw Tribal Settlement Act of 2025

In Committee

Introduced:Feb 19, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Markwayne Mullin

Senator

Republican

OK

Cosponsors

1

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Native Americans

Summary

The Quapaw Tribal Settlement Act creates a trust account to settle claims between the federal government and the Quapaw Nation of Oklahoma. The Department of the Interior Bureau of Trust Funds Administration will administer settlement funds, with payments made to the tribe and individual members per the January 2020 U.S. Court of Federal Claims panel recommendation. The bill establishes the distribution process for these settlement funds.

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

The Quapaw Tribal Settlement Act creates a trust account to settle claims between the federal government and the Quapaw Nation of Oklahoma. The Department of the Interior Bureau of Trust Funds Administration will administer settlement funds, with payments made to the tribe and individual members per the January 2020 U.S. Court of Federal Claims panel recommendation. The bill establishes the distribution process for these settlement funds.

Last updated: 12/30/2025

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Quapaw Tribal Settlement Act of 2025This bill creates a trust account, funds the account, and establishes a distribution process to settle certain claims between the federal government and the Quapaw Nation (a tribe in Oklahoma). Specifically, the bill establishes the Quapaw Bear Settlement Trust Account and directs the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Trust Funds Administration to administer all funds appropriated to the trust account. Interior must make payments to the tribe and individual members of the tribe in accordance with the January 2020 recommendation of the review panel of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.The bill outlines the distribution process for the settlement funds in the trust account.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Creates Quapaw Bear Settlement Trust Account
Settles claims between federal government and Quapaw Nation
Interior Bureau of Trust Funds Administration manages account
Follows January 2020 Court of Federal Claims recommendation
Distributes funds to tribe and individual members
Resolves historical trust management disputes

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This bill resolves longstanding claims the Quapaw Nation brought against the federal government for mismanagement of tribal trust assets. Trust mismanagement lawsuits have been settled with many tribes over the past two decades. This settlement provides closure and compensation for the Quapaw Nation, with funds that can support tribal programs and individual payments to members. The bill codifies the court-recommended settlement terms into law.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Native Americans

Related Subjects

Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration

Federal-Indian relations

Government trust funds

Indian claims

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

630, 119th Congress (2025). "Quapaw Tribal Settlement Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-630