HR 4637 United States House · 117th Congress

To sever United States Government relations with the Creek Nation of Oklahoma until such time as the Creek Nation of Oklahoma restores full Tribal citizenship to the Creek Freedmen disenfranchised in the October 6, 1979, Creek Nation vote and fulfills all its treaty obligations with the Government of the United States, and for other purposes.

Summary
This bill directs the United States to sever all relations with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation of Oklahoma (i.e., Creek Nation) until the tribe complies with treaty and federal obligations. Specifically, Creek Nation must restore full tribal citizenship to those individuals who can trace their ancestry to individuals listed on the 1906 Dawes Commission Rolls for the Creek Freedmen (i.e., Creek Freedmen, Freedmen, and Black Creeks). The bill also suspends the tribe's authority to conduct gaming or administer any funds from gaming until the tribe is in compliance with all treaty and federal obligations. The bill requires the Department of the Interior to (1) coordinate with federal agencies and receive reports from such agencies; (2) submit monthly compliance reports; and (3) issue a report on the status of Freedmen in the Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Seminole Nations of Oklahoma, including their access to tribal benefits. The Department of Justice must issue a finding on whether the civil rights of the Freedmen have been violated by the Creek Nation, Interior, or both. The bill establishes a private right of action for Freedmen. The bill directs the Government Accountability Office to issue an annual report on the tribe's expenditure of federal funds and whether the tribe is in full compliance with all federal laws related to the management and disbursement of such funds.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jul 2021
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Jul 22, 2021 Last action Nov 1, 2022
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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
4
Key actions
0
Committee
3
Nov 1, 2022
Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
lower
Aug 11, 2021
Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States.
lower
Jul 22, 2021
Committee
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
lower
Jul 22, 2021
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors