PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 161.
Congressional Research Service
Version 80 · Reported to Senate without amendment · Jun 28, 2017
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2017
TITLE I--CHICKAHOMINY INDIAN TRIBE
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
(Sec. 103) This bill extends federal recognition to the Chickahominy Tribe. The tribe and its members are made eligible for the services and benefits provided by the federal government to federally recognized Indian tribes, without regard to the existence of a reservation for the tribe. The bill establishes the service area of the tribe.
(Sec. 104) The bill sets forth requirements for the tribe regarding its membership roll, governing documents, and governing body.
(Sec. 106) The Department of the Interior, upon the request of the tribe, must take certain land owned by the tribe in Virginia into trust for the benefit of the tribe, to be considered part of the tribe's reservation.
The bill prohibits the tribe from conducting gaming activities.
(Sec. 107) The bill does not affect the hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, or water rights of the tribe or its members.
TITLE II--CHICKAHOMINY INDIAN TRIBE--EASTERN DIVISION
(Sec. 203) This bill extends federal recognition to the Chickahominy Indian Tribe--Eastern Division. The tribe and its members are made eligible for the services and benefits provided by the federal government to federally recognized tribes, without regard to the existence of a reservation for the tribe. The bill establishes the service area of the tribe.
(Sec. 204) The bill sets forth requirements for the tribe regarding its membership roll, governing documents, and governing body.
(Sec. 206) The Department of the Interior, upon the request of the tribe, must take certain land owned by the tribe in Virginia into trust for the benefit of the tribe, to be considered part of the tribe's reservation.
The bill prohibits the tribe from conducting gaming activities.
(Sec. 207) The bill does not affect the hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, or water rights of the tribe or its members.
TITLE III--UPPER MATTAPONI TRIBE
(Sec. 303) This bill extends federal recognition to the Upper Mattaponi Tribe. The tribe and its members are made eligible for the services and benefits provided by the federal government to federally recognized tribes, without regard to the existence of a reservation for the tribe. The bill establishes the service area of the tribe.
(Sec. 304) The bill sets forth requirements for the tribe regarding its membership roll, governing documents, and governing body.
(Sec. 306) The Department of the Interior, upon the request of the tribe, must take certain land owned by the tribe in Virginia into trust for the benefit of the tribe, to be considered part of the tribe's reservation.
The bill prohibits the tribe from conducting gaming activities.
(Sec. 307) The bill does not affect the hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, or water rights of the tribe or its members.
TITLE IV--RAPPAHANNOCK TRIBE, INC.
(Sec. 403) This bill extends federal recognition to the Rappahannock Tribe, Inc. The tribe and its members are made eligible for the services and benefits provided by the federal government to federally recognized tribes, without regard to the existence of a reservation for the tribe. The bill establishes the service area of the tribe.
(Sec. 404) The bill sets forth requirements for the tribe regarding its membership roll, governing documents, and governing body.
(Sec. 406) The Department of the Interior, upon the request of the tribe, must take certain land owned by the tribe in Virginia into trust for the benefit of the tribe, to be considered part of the tribe's reservation.
The bill prohibits the tribe from conducting gaming activities.
(Sec. 407) The bill does not affect the hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, or water rights of the tribe or its members.
TITLE V--MONACAN INDIAN NATION
(Sec. 503) This bill extends federal recognition to the Monacan Indian Nation. The tribe and its members are made eligible for the services and benefits provided by the federal government to federally recognized tribes, without regard to the existence of a reservation for the tribe. The bill establishes the service area of the tribe.
(Sec. 504) The bill sets forth requirements for the tribe regarding its membership roll, governing documents, and governing body.
(Sec. 506) The Department of the Interior, upon the request of the tribe, must take certain land owned by the tribe in Virginia into trust for the benefit of the tribe, to be considered part of the tribe's reservation.
The bill prohibits the tribe from conducting gaming activities.
(Sec. 507) The bill does not affect the hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, or water rights of the tribe or its members.
TITLE VI--NANSEMOND INDIAN TRIBE
(Sec. 603) This bill extends federal recognition to the Nansemond Indian Tribe. The tribe and its members are made eligible for the services and benefits provided by the federal government to federally recognized tribes, without regard to the existence of a reservation for the tribe. The bill establishes the service area of the tribe.
(Sec. 604) The bill sets forth requirements for the tribe regarding its membership roll, governing documents, and governing body.
(Sec. 606) The Department of the Interior, upon the request of the tribe, must take certain land owned by the tribe in Virginia into trust for the benefit of the tribe, to be considered part of the tribe's reservation.
The bill prohibits the tribe from conducting gaming activities.
(Sec. 607) The bill does not affect the hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, or water rights of the tribe or its members.
TITLE VII--EMINENT DOMAIN
(Sec. 701) Eminent domain may not be used to acquire lands for a tribe recognized under this bill.
People & committees
Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] · D–VA
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 161.
Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Hoeven without amendment. With written report No. 115-123.
Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Hoeven without amendment. With written report No. 115-123.
Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks: CR S1893)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
Source last updated: Dec 10, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Analyze S.691 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
Examine S.691 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
Examine S.691 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
Examine S.691 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.