Volume 68 · 769
Public Law 83–627
To provide for the termination of Federal supervision over the property of the Alabama and Coushatta Tribes of Indians of Texas, and the individual members thereof; and for other purposes.
Approved August 23, 1954
Statutory text
AN ACT
To provide for the termination of Federal supervision over the property of the Alabama and Coushatta Tribes of Indians of Texas, and the individual members thereof; and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to convey to the State of Texas the lands held in trust by the United States for the tribe of Indians organized and known as the Alabama and Coushatta Tribes of Texas, located in Polk County, Texas; and such tribe is authorized to convey to the State of Texas the lands purchased for and deeded to the Alabama Indians in accordance with an act of the legislature of the State of Texas approved February 3, 1854, located in Polk County, Texas. All of the lands so conveyed shall be held by the State of Texas in trust for the benefit of the Indians of the Alabama and Coushatta Tribes of Texas, subject to such conditions regarding management and use as the State of Texas may prescribe and the disposition of such lands shall be subject to approval of a majority of the adult members of the Alabama and Coushatta Tribes of Texas.
Sec. 2.
Upon the conveyance to the State of Texas of the lands held
Federal trust termination.
Publication in FR.
in trust by the United States for the Alabama and Coushatta Tribes of Texas, the Secretary of the Interior shall publish in the Federal Register a proclamation declaring that the Federal trust relationship to such tribe and its members has terminated. Thereafter such tribe and its members shall not be entitled to any of the services performed by the United States for Indians because of their status as Indians: Provided, That after the date of this Act such Indians shall be eligible for admission, on the same terms that apply to other Indians, to hospitals and schools maintained by the United States.
Sec. 3.
Effective on the date of the proclamation provided for in section 2 of this Act, all powers of the Secretary of the Interior or any other officer of the United States to take, review, or approve any action under the constitution and bylaws of the Alabama and Coushatta Tribes of Texas approved on August 19, 1938, pursuant to the Act of June 18, 1934 (48 Stat. 984), are terminated. Any powers
25 USC 461–479.
conferred upon the tribe by its constitution and bylaws that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are terminated. Such termination shall not affect the power of the tribe to take any action under its constitution and bylaws that is consistent with this Act without the participation of the Secretary or other officer of the United States in such action.
Sec. 4.
The indebtedness of the Alabama and Coushatta Tribes of
Cancelation of indebtedness.
Texas to the United States incurred under the provisions of the Act of May 29, 1928 (45 Stat. 883, 900), is canceled, effective on the date of the proclamation to be issued in accordance with the provisions of section 2 of this Act.
Sec. 5.
The corporate charter of the Alabama and Coushatta Tribes
Revocation of charter.
25 USC 461–479.
of Texas issued pursuant to the Act of June 18, 1934 (48 Stat. 984), ratified on October 17, 1939, is revoked, effective on the date of the proclamation to be issued in accordance with the provisions of section 2 of this Act.
Sec. 6.
On and after the date of the proclamation to be issued in
Applicability of State laws.
accordance with the provisions of section 2 of this Act, all statutes of the United States which affect Indians because of their status as Indians shall no longer be applicable to the Alabama and Coushatta Tribes of Texas or the members thereof, except as provided in section 2 of this Act, and the laws of the several States shall apply to the tribe and its members in the same manner as they apply to other citizens or persons within their jurisdiction.
Sec. 7.
Nothing in this Act shall affect the status of the members
Citizenship status.
of the tribes as citizens of the United States.
Sec. 8.
The Act of June 18, 1934 (48 Stat. 984), as amended by the Act of June 15, 1935 (49 Stat. 387), shall not apply to the tribe and
25 USC 461–479.
its members after the date of the proclamation to be issued in accordance with the provisions of section 2 of this Act.
Approved August 23, 1954.