House · HR 165 · 119th Congress
Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act
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Summary
This bill directs the Department of the Interior to place about 40 acres near Wounded Knee, South Dakota under tribal ownership. The land would be held by the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe as a memorial and sacred site. The tribes could not sell the land or use it for gaming or commercial development.
In Favor
This land is part of the site of the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre, a tragedy for the Lakota people. Giving the tribes secure ownership lets them honor and preserve that history on their own terms. The bill also removes federal approval requirements, so the tribes can manage the memorial without government delays.
Against
Restricted fee status is permanent and nearly impossible to reverse without both Congress and the tribes agreeing. The bill also bypasses standard federal land disposal review, removing normal oversight before the transfer is finalized. Future decisions about public access to this historic site will rest entirely with the tribes, with no federal role guaranteed.
Additional Considerations
Purpose & Problem
Is the problem real and worth federal action?
The bill directs the Department of the Interior to place about 40 acres near Wounded Knee, South Dakota into a protected ownership status for two Sioux tribes. The land is part of the site of the December 29, 1890, Wounded Knee Massacre.
Scope & Related Provisions
Does it stay focused, or carry unrelated add-ons?
The bill stays focused on transferring and protecting this specific 40-acre parcel. It includes one added rule barring gaming on the land, which the tribes already agreed to in their 2022 covenant.
Who Is Affected
Who benefits, and who bears the cost?
The Oglala Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe gain protected ownership of the land and control over its use. The Department of the Interior takes on new duties to complete the transfer within 365 days.
Cost & Funding
Is it affordable and responsibly funded?
The bill authorizes no dollar amounts and does not appropriate funds. It shifts administrative duties onto the Department of the Interior to complete paperwork, surveys, and utility assignments for the transfer.
Risks & Implementation
What could go wrong in practice?
The bill requires the Secretary to finish all transfer actions within 365 days, which depends on completing surveys and legal descriptions accurately. Existing private and utility agreements on the land must also be sorted and assigned during that same window.
For the actual bill text, see congress.gov.
AI-generated · Published 6/5/2026