Bills · 119th Congress · Native Americans

Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act

Where it stands

  1. Introduced1/3/25
  2. Passed HousePassed 1/22/25
  3. SenatePassed 12/11/25
  4. PresidentSigned 12/19/25
  5. LawPublic Law 119-61

Passed the House 416–0 on January 22, 2025 (Roll Call 22 →). Passed the Senate by unanimous consent on December 11, 2025. Became Public Law 119-61 on December 19, 2025.

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Roll calls on this bill

Votes on passage
HouseOn Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass · 1/22/25Suspension of the rulesA fast-track House procedure, usually for measures expected to have broad support. Debate is limited to 40 minutes, no amendments can be offered, and it needs a two-thirds vote of members voting — not a simple majority. A yes vote passes the bill.Rules of the House, Rule XV, clause 1 ↗
Passed
  • Democratic200 Yea · 0 Nay · 15 Not voting
  • Republican216 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Not voting
  • Independent / Other0 Yea · 0 Nay · 0 Not voting
Official summary (CRS)

Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act

This act directs the Department of the Interior to complete all actions necessary to place approximately 40 acres of land in Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota, into restricted fee status for the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. Restricted fee status refers to land that is owned by a tribe or tribal member but is subject to restrictions by the United States against alienation (i.e., sale or transfer) or encumbrance (e.g., liens, leases, or rights-of-way) by operation of law.

The act requires the land to be held and maintained as a memorial and sacred site, as outlined by the document titled Covenant Between the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and dated October 21, 2022. Further, it prohibits commercial development and gaming activity on the land.

Full text on congress.gov ↗
Sponsor
Rep. Dusty Johnson ( Republican · SD-AL)
Cosponsors
0
Introduced
1/3/25
Policy area
Native Americans

What happens next

Became Public Law 119-61.

All actions (20)
  1. 1/3/25Introduced in House
  2. 1/3/25Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
  3. 1/21/25Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
  4. 1/21/25Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H246-248)
  5. 1/21/25DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 165.
  6. 1/21/25At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
  7. 1/22/25Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H285)
  8. 1/22/25Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 416 - 0 (Roll no. 22). (text: 1/21/2025 CR H246-247)
  9. 1/22/25On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 416 - 0 (Roll no. 22). (text: 1/21/2025 CR H246-247)
  10. 1/22/25Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  11. 1/23/25Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
  12. 3/5/25Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
  13. 10/2/25Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 119-72.
  14. 10/2/25Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 177.
  15. 12/11/25Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
  16. 12/11/25Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8685)
  17. 12/15/25Message on Senate action sent to the House.
  18. 12/18/25Presented to President.
  19. 12/19/25Signed by President.
  20. 12/19/25Became Public Law No: 119-61.