Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03), released the following statement after his bill , passed the United States House of Representatives by a unanimous voice vote. Today’s passage marks the fifth time that Rep. Fleischmann’s bill to restore sacred land to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has passed the House.
“It is long past time for Congress to fulfill its promise to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and return the sacred land taken forcibly from them due to tragic and misguided federal policies of the past. Today marks the fifth consecutive time that my bill to restore 76.1 acres of land to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has overwhelming passed the House of Representatives, and it is time for the Senate to pass this bill and send it to President Trump’s desk for him to sign into law,” said Congressman Fleischmann.
“It is on these 76.1 acres that the Cherokee People have honored the birth and life of Sequoyah, one of the most influential and important Native Americans to have lived. The Eastern Band of Cherokee has been promised repeatedly that this sacred land will be returned to them, and the Eastern Band has committed to improving the site to include expanding the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum so more Americans can learn and know about the important legacy of Sequoyah and the history of the Cherokee People. Still, so far, Congress has not lived up to its repeated promises to return this land. I strongly urge my colleagues in the Senate to realize the urgent importance of passing this bill and finally correct a historic wrong by returning this sacred land to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.”
“Congressman Fleischmann’s work to pass the Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act is an important step to benefit the tribal members of Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians that have historic ties to his district. I thank Rep. Fleischmann for his leadership on this issue and look forward to working with him to get this bill to the President’s desk,” said House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman.
Key Facts about H.R. 226:
- Impacts 76.1 acres of specified land along the Little Tennessee River and Tellico Reservoir in Monroe County.
- Includes lands from the Tanasi Memorial, Chota Memorial, Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, and lands to administer support for these cultural programs and properties.
- Places these lands into trust for the benefit of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
- Specifies that these lands will be used for cultural, historical, and recreational purposes.
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act has been passed by the House of Representatives four consecutive times before its current reintroduction as H.R. 226 in the 119th Congress.
- 115th Congress (2017-2018): passed the House by a vote of 383-2.
- 116th Congress (2019-2020): passed the House by a unanimous voice vote.
- 117th Congress (2021-2022): passed the House by a vote of 407-16.
- 118th Congress (2023-2024): passed the House by a unanimous voice vote.
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This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://fleischmann.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-fleischmann-s-eastern-band-of-cherokee-historic-lands-reacquisition-act-passes-house