Page:Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians v. Coughlin.pdf/1

(Slip Opinion)

(a) Two provisions of the Bankruptcy Code lie at the heart of this case. The first, 11 U. S. C. §106(a), expressly abrogates the sovereign immunity of “governmental unit[s]” for enumerated purposes. The second, §101(27), defines “governmental unit” as “United States; State; Commonwealth; District; Territory; municipality; foreign state; department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States …, a State, a Commonwealth, a District, a Territory, a municipality, or a foreign state; or other foreign or domestic government.” In order for these provisions to abrogate tribal sovereign immunity, Congress “must [have made] its intent … ‘unmistakably clear in the language of the statute.’ ” ''Financial Oversight and Management Bd. for P. R. v. Centro De Periodismo Investigativo, Inc.'', 598 U. S. ___, ___. If the statute can