Senate bill unlocks $137.5 million settlement for the Quapaw Nation

What does this do?

S 630 authorizes the U.S. Treasury to pay $137.5 million to settle a lawsuit originally filed in 2013 by the Quapaw Nation and certain individual tribal members. The money would be transferred into a special account managed by the Department of the Interior. The claimants would then have 45 days to begin mediation to agree on how to divide the funds, with the Secretary of the Interior stepping in to decide if no agreement is reached within 18 months.

Who does it affect?

This bill directly affects the Quapaw Nation, a federally recognized tribe based primarily in northeastern Oklahoma, and the specific individual tribal members named in the 2013 lawsuit. For most Americans there is no direct impact.

Why does it matter?

A federal review panel issued a recommendation in 2020 on what the government should pay, but the payment could not be made without explicit legal authority. This bill provides that authority, moving the case toward a resolution that has been pending since 2013.

What does it cost, and who pays?

• $137.5M total settlement
• Paid from U.S. Treasury
• No new tax created