H.R. 165: Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act
Sponsor
Dusty Johnson
Republican · SD
What H.R. 165 does
The Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act directs the Department of the Interior to complete everything needed to place about 40 acres in Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota, into restricted fee status for the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. Restricted fee land is owned by a tribe or tribal member but is subject to restrictions by the United States against being sold, transferred or encumbered.
The land must be held and maintained as a memorial and sacred site, as laid out in a covenant between the two tribes dated October 21, 2022. The act prohibits commercial development and gaming on the land.
How the House voted
Passed · January 22, 2025On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass: H R 165 Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act · Roll no. 22 · Official record
HR165 Legislative Journey
Signed into Law
Dec 19, 2025
Became Public Law No: 119-61.
+3 more actions this day
Action Taken
Dec 18, 2025
Presented to President.
Action Taken
Dec 15, 2025
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Passed
Dec 11, 2025
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8685)
+1 more action this day
Committee Action
Oct 2, 2025
Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 119-72.
Passed Committee
Mar 5, 2025
Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Committee Action
Jan 23, 2025
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
House: Vote: 416-0
Jan 22, 2025
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)
House: Vote Held
Jan 21, 2025
At 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.
About the Sponsor
Dusty Johnson
Republican, South Dakota · 7 years in Congress
Committees: Transportation and Infrastructure, Agriculture, House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party
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Committee Sponsors
Indian Affairs Committee
0 of 11 committee members cosponsored at the time
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
Natural Resources Committee
0 of 45 committee members cosponsored at the time
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
H.R. 165 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Indian Affairs
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Native Americans
- Introduced
- Jan 3, 2025
Became Public Law No: 119-61.
Dec 19, 2025
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H.R. 165 Bill Text
“To direct the Secretary of the Interior to complete all actions necessary for certain land to be held in restricted fee status by the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, and for other purposes.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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