Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 108 Part 4.djvu/867

 PUBLIC LAW 103-377—OCT. 19, 1994 108 STAT. 3501 Public Law 103-377 103d Congress An Act To settle Indian land claims within the State of Connecticut, and for other pvirposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the "Mohegan Nation of Comiecticut Land Claims Settlement Act of 1994". SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PUBPOSES. (a) FINDINGS. —Congress finds the following: (1) The Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut received recognition by the United States pursuant to the administrative process under part 83 of title 25 of the Code of Federal Regulations. (2) The Mohegian Tribe of Indians of Connecticut is the successor in interest to the aboriginal entity known as the Mohegan Indian Tribe. (3) The Mohegain Tribe has existed in the geographic area that is currentiy the State of Connecticut for a long period preceding the colonial period of the history of the United States. (4) Certain lands were sequestered as tribal lands by the Colony of Connecticut and subsequentiy by the State of Connecticut. (5) The Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut v. State of Connecticut, et al. (CivU Action No. H -77 -434, pending before the United States District Court for the Southern District of Comiecticut) relates to the ownership of certain lands within the State of Connecticut. (6) Such action will likely result in economic hardships for residents of the State of Connecticut, including residents of the town of Montville, Connecticut, by encumbering the title to lands in the State, including lands that Eire not currentiy the subject of the action. (7) The State of Connecticut and the Mohegan Tribe have executed agreements for the purposes of resolving all disputes between the State of Connecticut and the Mohegan Tribe and providing a settlement for the action referred to in paragraph (5). (8) In order to implement the agreements referred to in paragraphs (5) and (6) of section 3 that address matters of jtirisdiction with respect to certain offenses committed by and against members of the Mohegan Tribe and other Indians in Indian country and matters of gaming-related development, it is necessary for the Congress to enact legislation. Oct. 19, 1994 [H.R. 4653] Mohegan Nation of Connecticut Land Claims Settlement Act of 1994. 25 USC 1775 note. 25 USC 1775.

�