A bill to authorize, ratify, and confirm the Agreement of Settlement and Compromise to Resolve the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim in the State of New York, and for other purposes.

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Bill ID: 119/s/3475
Last Updated: June 3, 2026

Sponsored by

Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]

ID: G000555

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.

June 2, 2026

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 the esteemed Senator Gillibrand. Let's dissect this farce, shall we?

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** Ah, the noble goal of "resolving" a land claim that's been festering for decades. How touching. The real purpose, of course, is to pacify the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe with a few crumbs while maintaining the status quo of bureaucratic inertia. It's a classic case of "too little, too late" syndrome.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill authorizes, ratifies, and confirms the Settlement Agreement, which is just a fancy way of saying "we're going to pretend to listen to the tribe's concerns while doing the bare minimum." The agreement itself is a convoluted mess of land transfers, easements, and right-of-ways that will only serve to further confuse the issue. Section 2 is particularly amusing, as it defines certain lands as "Indian Country" – because, you know, the Native Americans haven't been marginalized enough already.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects are involved: the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, the State of New York, various counties and towns, and the New York Power Authority. Each one is looking out for their own interests, naturally. The tribe gets some token concessions, the state gets to maintain its grip on power, and the power authority gets to keep exploiting the region's resources. Everyone wins! (Except, of course, the actual people affected by this debacle.)

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a textbook example of "legislative lip service." It will do nothing to address the underlying issues plaguing the Akwesasne Mohawk community, such as poverty, lack of access to healthcare, and environmental degradation. Instead, it will create a new layer of bureaucratic red tape, ensuring that the tribe remains dependent on the whims of their colonial overlords. The real impact will be felt in the wallets of lobbyists and special interest groups, who will continue to line their pockets with cash while the tribe is left to fight over scraps.

In conclusion, S. 3475 is a masterclass in legislative obfuscation, designed to appease everyone while changing nothing. It's a symptom of a deeper disease: the chronic inability of our government to address the systemic injustices faced by Native American communities. But hey, at least it looks good on paper – and that's all that really matters, right?

Related Topics

Public Lands & Natural Resources State & Local Government Affairs
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💰 Campaign Finance Network

Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$97,000
18 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$10,600
Committees
$0
Individuals
$86,400

No PAC contributions found

1
ONEIDA INDIAN NATION
2 transactions
$6,600
2
THE CHICKASAW NATION
1 transaction
$3,000
3
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
2 transactions
$1,000

No committee contributions found

1
STRICKLER, DANIEL B. JR.
2 transactions
$12,000
2
ROSENWALD, E. JOHN JR.
2 transactions
$11,600
3
VENNERBERG, VAUGHN II
2 transactions
$11,600
4
BEAMON, MARTINE
2 transactions
$11,600
5
COAD, CHRISTOPHER T.
2 transactions
$6,600
6
KANDHARI, JITANIA
1 transaction
$3,300
7
KRISHNAN, ASHWIN
1 transaction
$3,300
8
LEPRINO, TERRY
1 transaction
$3,300
9
NIKOLAYEVSKY, ANNA
1 transaction
$3,300
10
ARMSTRONG, BRIAN
1 transaction
$3,300
11
ARON, ABBE KAHN
1 transaction
$3,300
12
BLUHM, ANDREW G.
1 transaction
$3,300
13
BRADBURY, DARCY
1 transaction
$3,300
14
CHRISTOPH, ROGER
1 transaction
$3,300
15
COHEN, MICHELE R.
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 1 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]

ID: S000148

Top Contributors

10

1
AK-CHIN INDIAN COMMUNITY
Organization MARICOPA, AZ
$3,300
Dec 29, 2023
2
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,000
Mar 21, 2024
3
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,000
Jun 2, 2023
4
CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA
Organization DURANT, OK
$550
Sep 27, 2023
5
MARES, JAN
Individual WASHINGTON, DC
$3,500
Dec 6, 2024
6
MEZZALINGUA, JOHN
JMA CEO
Individual SKANEATELES, NY
$3,300
Dec 21, 2023
7
RIKLIS, MARCIA
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual EAST HAMPTON, NY
$3,300
Dec 15, 2023
8
EISENSTADT, STEVEN
CUMBERLAND PACKING CORP. EXECUTIVE
Individual BROOKLYN, NY
$3,300
Dec 21, 2023
9
MEZZALINGUA, JOHN
JMA CEO
Individual SKANEATELES, NY
$3,300
Dec 21, 2023
10
EISENSTADT, STEVEN
CUMBERLAND PACKING CORP. EXECUTIVE
Individual BROOKLYN, NY
$3,300
Dec 21, 2023

Donor Network - Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 21 nodes and 28 connections

Total contributions: $102,300

Top Donors - Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]

Showing top 18 donors by contribution amount

3 Orgs15 Individuals

Industry Impact

Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 1 harmed.

  • Section 1 authorizes the transfer of land and easements related to the New York Power Authority, which could potentially impact their operations or infrastructure plans, citing the Settlement Agreement with the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe and other parties.

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