The U.S. House of Representatives considers H.R.1240, the Winnebago Land Transfer Act, on February 5, 2024.

The bill returns about 1,600 acres to the Winnebago Tribe. The land, located in Iowa, was promised to the tribe by treaty but was later illegally condemned and taken by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

A hearing on H.R.1240 took place before the House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs on June 7, 2023, with Chairwoman Victoria Kitcheyan of the Winnebago Tribe testifying in support. The House Committee on Natural Resources approved the bill at a markup session on June 13, 2023.

The tribe has homelands in Nebraska and Iowa. The land in Iowa would be managed for recreational and conservation purposes.

Following consideration of the bill, the House passed H.R.1240 under a suspension of the rules.

Video Courtesy C-SPAN