Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 96 Part 2.djvu/650

 96 STAT. 2012

PUBLIC LAW 97-399—DEC. 31, 1982

Public Law 97-399..., 97th Congress ^^^ a

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An Act

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Dec. 31, 1982 [H.R. 7155]

To settle certain Indian land claims within the State of Florida, and for other purposes.

Florida Indian Land Claims

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled. That this Act may ^^ ^ited as the "Florida Indian Land Claims Settlement Act of

Settlement Act of 1982. 25 USC 1741 ^°^^'

25 USC 1741.

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CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF POLICY

SEC. 2. Congress finds and declares that— (1) there is pending before the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida a lawsuit by the Miccosukee ' Indian Tribe which involves certain lands within the State of Florida; (2) the pendency of such lawsuit may result in economic hardships for residents of the State of Florida by clouding the titles to lands in the State, including lands not now involved in the lawsuits; ' (3) the pendency of such lawsuit also has clouded the easement rights of the South Florida Water Management District in lands necessary for use as a water flowage and storage area, which is part of a federally authorized project for flood control and water management in central and southern Florida, and which is being used to provide and regulate a water supply for i the residents of South Florida; (4) the State of Florida and the Miccosukee Indian Tribe have executed agreements for the purposes of resolving tribal land claims and settling such lawsuit, which agreements require implementing legislation by the Congress of the United States and the Legislature of the State of Florida; and (5) Congress shares with the parties to such agreements a desire to settle such Indian claims in the State of Florida without additional cost to the United States. DEFINITIONS

25 USC 1742.

SEC. 3. For purposes of this Act— (1) The term "Miccosukee Tribe" means the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, a tribe of American Indians recognized by the United States and organized under section 16 of the Act of June 18, 1934 (48 Stat. 987; 25 U.S.C. 476) and recognized by the State of Florida pursuant to chapter 285, Florida Statutes. (2) The term "State of Florida" means the State of Florida, its agencies, political subdivisions, constitutional officers, officials of its agencies and subdivisions, and the South Florida Water Management District. (3) The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior.

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