Contact Congress about S. 3475: A bill to authorize, ratify, and confirm the Agreement of Settlement and Compromise to Resolve the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim in the State of New York, and for other purposes.

This bill makes a negotiated land-claim settlement between the Akwesasne Mohawk tribe and New York State officially binding under federal law. It clears up title to lands from three old lawsuits and designates certain tribal lands as Indian Country. That status shift affects which government has authority there and which laws apply.

Modern Action explains legislation in plain English, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.

A bill to authorize, ratify, and confirm the Agreement of Settlement and Compromise to Resolve the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim in the State of New York, and for other purposes. is a Senate bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.

Latest action on S. 3475: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.

Who this affects: The bill directly affects the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, the broader Akwesasne Mohawk community, New York State, and the local governments and utility involved in the settlement. More broadly, anyone who lives, works, or owns property near the Settlement Acquisition Areas in northern New York may feel the effects of changed jurisdiction and land status.

Why this matters: This bill settles legal disputes that have dragged on for more than 40 years. Federal ratification makes the agreement legally solid and harder to challenge in court. The Indian Country designation carries real practical weight — it changes who enforces the law, which courts handle criminal cases, and what federal programs the tribe can access on those lands.

Key provisions in S. 3475

• Congress would officially approve the 'Agreement of Settlement and Compromise to Resolve the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim in the State of New York.'
• The bill confirms land, road-access, and easement transfers tied to three specific federal court cases involving the Canadian Saint Regis Band of Mohawk Indians and New York State.
• Parties to the agreement include the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, New York State, Franklin and St. Lawrence Counties, the Towns of Fort Covington and Bombay, and the New York Power Authority.
• Land the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe already owns within the Settlement Acquisition Areas on the settlement's effective date would be treated as Indian Country.
• Land the tribe buys within those areas after the effective date would also be treated as Indian Country.

How Modern Action helps you take action on S. 3475

You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.

Questions people ask about S. 3475

What is S. 3475?

This bill makes a negotiated land-claim settlement between the Akwesasne Mohawk tribe and New York State officially binding under federal law. It clears up title to lands from three old lawsuits and designates certain tribal lands as Indian Country. That status shift affects which government has authority there and which laws apply.

How do I support or oppose S. 3475?

Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.

Who should I contact about S. 3475?

Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.

Can Modern Action explain S. 3475 before I act?

Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.