Description:
H.R. 3764 would stipulate that an Indian group can become a federally recognized Indian tribe only through the Congress enacting legislation to that effect. The bill would outline the process for such Indian groups to file petitions for federal recognition with the Department of the Interior (DOI).
The bill also would provide federal recognition to the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana and six Indian tribes in Virginia—the Chickahominy Indian Tribe, the Eastern Division of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe, the Upper Mattaponi Tribe, the Rappahannock Tribe, Inc., the Monacan Indian Nation, and the Nansemond Indian Tribe. Federal recognition would make the tribes eligible to receive benefits from various federal programs.
CBO estimates that implementing this legislation would cost $100 million over the 2017-2021 period, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts. Enacting H.R. 3764 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 3764 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027.
H.R. 3764 would impose an intergovernmental mandate as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) by exempting some lands from taxation by state and local governments, but CBO estimates the cost of the mandate would be small and well below the threshold established in that act ($77 million in 2016, adjusted annually for inflation).
H.R. 3764 contains no private-sector mandates as defined in UMRA.
