H.R. 165House bill · 119th CongressSigned into lawNative Americans

Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act

Sponsored byDusty JohnsonR-SD-ALIntroduced Jan 3, 2025Full text on congress.gov ↗

Latest action (Dec 19, 2025) No: 119-61.

What it does

Congressional Research Service, Dec 19, 2025

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.

Face Value

as enrolled
92Narrow

How much of this bill its name accounts for.

  • Every bill starts at100
  • Areas of law−8

    Amends 2 titles of the US Code (18 and 25) rather than one.

Face Value measures reach, not honesty. A big bill can be accurately named, and a low score is not an accusation — it means the contents reach further than any short title could describe. Count it yourself ↗ How this is worked out

What Congress did

1 recorded
  • On decisive vote

    House · Jan 22, 2025

    A fast-track vote: no amendments, short debate, and two thirds needed to pass. Used for bills expected to be uncontroversial.

    4160

    Passed

    Every vote →

Discussion

0 comments

Sign in to join the discussion and put your vote on the record.

Sort

No comments yet. Be the first to make the case.

Your position on H.R. 165No positions yet