§ 1772. — Findings and policy.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 25USC1772]
TITLE 25--INDIANS
CHAPTER 19--INDIAN LAND CLAIMS SETTLEMENTS
SUBCHAPTER VI--FLORIDA INDIAN (SEMINOLE) LAND CLAIMS SETTLEMENT
Sec. 1772. Findings and policy
Congress finds and declares that--
(1) there is pending before the United States District Court for
the southern district of Florida a lawsuit by the Seminole Tribe
which involves certain lands within the State and there are also
claims by the tribe to other areas of Florida by virtue of an 1839
Executive order of the President and by right of non-extinguishment
of aboriginal possession which has been asserted but not filed in
court;
(2) the pendency of this lawsuit and these claims may result in
economic hardships for residents of the State by clouding the titles
to lands in the State, including lands not now involved in the
lawsuit;
(3) the pendency of this lawsuit and these claims also have
clouded the easement rights of the South Florida Water Management
District in lands necessary for use as a water flowage and storage
area, which is part of a federally authorized project for flood
control and water management in central and southern Florida, and
which is being used to provide and regulate a water supply for the
residents of south Florida;
(4) the State, the district, and the tribe have executed
agreements for the purposes of resolving tribal land claims and
settling the lawsuit--
(A) which include conveyance of land and payment of
consideration to the tribe; and
(B) which require implementing legislation by the Congress
of the United States and the Legislature of the State of
Florida;
(5) Congress shares with the parties to such agreements a desire
to settle these Indian claims in the State of Florida without
additional cost to the United States;
(6) there is considerable uncertainty as to the nature and
extent of the water rights of the tribe, and that continued
controversy over this should be settled by agreement; and
(7) the State, the district, and the tribe have entered into a
compact which, if approved by Congress and the Florida Legislature,
creates specifically defined water rights in lieu of the undefined
water rights claimed by the tribe.
(Pub. L. 100-228, Sec. 2, Dec. 31, 1987, 101 Stat. 1556.)
Effective Date
Section 10 of Pub. L. 100-228 provided that: ``This Act [enacting
this subchapter] shall take effect upon the date of its enactment [Dec.
31, 1987].''
Short Title
Section 1 of Pub. L. 100-228 provided that: ``This Act [enacting
this subchapter] may be cited as the `Seminole Indian Land Claims
Settlement Act of 1987'.''
