As ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on April 10, 2014
S. 161 would provide federal recognition to the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana. Federal recognition would make the tribe eligible to receive benefits from various federal programs.
CBO estimates that implementing this legislation would cost $38 million over the 2015-2019 period, assuming appropriation of the necessary funds. Enacting S. 161 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
S. 161 would impose an intergovernmental mandate as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) by exempting some lands from taxation by state and local governments, but CBO expects the cost of that mandate would be small and well below the threshold established in that act ($76 million in 2014, adjusted annually for inflation).
S. 161 contains no private-sector mandates as defined in UMRA.
