Washington tribe regains 1,000+ acres in Olympic National Park

What it does

This bill transfers approximately 1,082.63 acres of federal land in Washington State (currently part of Olympic National Park) into trust for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, making it part of their reservation. The land includes a portion of the Elwha River and will be managed under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act; the tribe cannot use it for gaming under federal Indian gaming law, and the transfer does not affect the tribe's existing treaty rights.

Why we flagged it

The bill's sole operative mechanism is the transfer of federal land into trust for a federally recognized tribe, restoring tribal land base and governance authority over a specific geographic area. This is a straightforward land-trust and sovereignty measure.

What the text implies

• The Elwha River portion will be managed under Wild and Scenic Rivers Act standards, potentially constraining future development but protecting ecosystem restoration efforts tied to the Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act (1992).
• Gaming prohibition may reflect a negotiated compromise to address non-tribal stakeholder concerns about casino development on restored lands, limiting one revenue stream but preserving other economic uses.
• Land taken from National Park Service control; NPS management authority over ~1,082 acres is transferred to tribal authority, reducing federal land management footprint in the park.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe regains land and self-governance authority over territory historically part of their reservation, supporting tribal sovereignty, cultural preservation, and economic self-determination. The gaming prohibition and preservation of treaty rights protect both tribal interests and broader public interests in river ecosystem management.

Who stands to gain

• Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe (land base, resource management authority, potential economic development)

Named in the bill

Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Lower Elwha Indian Reservation, Secretary of the Interior, Olympic National Park, Elwha River, Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act (Public Law 102-495), Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, Treaty of Point No Point (1855)

Where it stands

1 cosponsor: 1 Democrats.

• Apr 29, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in Senate”
• Apr 29, 2025 — Referred to Senate Committee on Indian Affairs · Congress.gov: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs”
• Dec 17, 2025 — Hearing held · Congress.gov: “Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held”
• May 20, 2026 — Reported out of committee · Congress.gov: “Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.