A bill to amend the Act of August 9, 1955 (commonly known as the "Long-Term Leasing Act"), to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land in the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation and land held in trust for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), and for other purposes.
Download PDFSponsored by
Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
ID: M000133
Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law
Track this bill's progress through the legislative process
Latest Action
Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.
December 17, 2025
Introduced
Committee Review
📍 Current Status
Next: The bill moves to the floor for full chamber debate and voting.
Floor Action
Passed Senate
House Review
Passed Congress
Presidential Action
Became Law
📚 How does a bill become a law?
1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.
2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.
3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.
4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.
5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.
6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.
7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!
Bill Summary
Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of Senators Markey and Warren. Let's dissect this farce, shall we?
**Main Purpose & Objectives:** Ah, the noble goal of "helping" Native American tribes by allowing them to lease their land for up to 99 years. How touching. In reality, this bill is a thinly veiled attempt to grease the wheels of crony capitalism and line the pockets of well-connected developers.
**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The Long-Term Leasing Act of 1955 gets a facelift, allowing the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation and land held in trust for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) to lease their land for nearly a century. Because what could possibly go wrong with giving private interests control over Native American lands for almost 100 years?
**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects: Native American tribes, developers, and politicians looking for campaign contributions. Oh, and let's not forget the taxpayers who'll foot the bill for this boondoggle.
**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a classic case of " regulatory capture," where special interests hijack the legislative process to serve their own agendas. The real beneficiaries will be wealthy developers and corporations, while Native American tribes get token gestures and empty promises. Meanwhile, the environmental and cultural impacts of these long-term leases will be conveniently ignored.
Diagnosis: This bill is suffering from a bad case of "Crony Capitalism Syndrome," where politicians prioritize their donors' interests over those of their constituents. The symptoms include:
* A 99-year lease period that's suspiciously convenient for developers * Lack of meaningful oversight and accountability mechanisms * Ignoring the long-term consequences for Native American tribes and the environment
Treatment: Apply a healthy dose of skepticism, followed by a strong injection of transparency and accountability. Unfortunately, this bill will likely be passed with minimal scrutiny, as politicians and lobbyists are too busy exchanging favors to care about the actual impact.
Prognosis: Poor. This bill will enrich a select few at the expense of Native American tribes and taxpayers. Just another day in the swamp that is Washington D.C.
Related Topics
💰 Campaign Finance Network
Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle
No PAC contributions found
No committee contributions found
Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance
This bill has 2 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
ID: W000817
Top Contributors
10
Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]
ID: T000476
Top Contributors
10
Donor Network - Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.
Showing 30 nodes and 36 connections
Total contributions: $128,400
Top Donors - Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Showing top 21 donors by contribution amount