Part B - 1998 Distribution Authority

25 USC 1300d21 - Definitions

In this part:
(1) Covered Indian tribe 
The term covered Indian tribe means an Indian tribe listed in section 1300d–23 (a) of this title.
(2) Fund Account 
The term Fund Account means the consolidated account for tribal trust funds in the Treasury of the United States that is managed by the Secretary
(A) through the Office of Trust Fund Management of the Department of the Interior; and
(B) in accordance with the American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.).
(3) Secretary 
The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
(4) Tribal governing body 
The term tribal governing body means the duly elected governing body of a covered Indian tribe.

25 USC 1300d22 - Distribution to, and use of certain funds by, the Sisseton and Wahpeton Tribes of Sioux Indians

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including part A of this subchapter, any funds made available by appropriations under chapter II of Public Law 90352 (82 Stat. 239) to the Sisseton and Wahpeton Tribes of Sioux Indians to pay a judgment in favor of those Indian tribes in Indian Claims Commission dockets numbered 142 and 359, including interest, that, as of November 13, 1998, have not been distributed, shall be distributed and used in accordance with this part.

25 USC 1300d23 - Distribution of funds to tribes

(a) In general 

(1) Amount distributed 

(A) In general 
Subject to section 1300d–27 (e) of this title and if no action is filed in a timely manner (as determined under section 1300d–27 (d) of this title) raising any claim identified in section 1300d–27 (a) of this title, not earlier than 365 days after November 13, 1998, and not later than 415 days after November 13, 1998, the Secretary shall transfer to the Fund Account to be credited to accounts established in the Fund Account for the benefit of the applicable governing bodies under paragraph (2) an aggregate amount determined under subparagraph (B).
(B) Aggregate amount 
The aggregate amount referred to in subparagraph (A) is an amount equal to the remainder of
(i) the funds described in section 1300d–22 of this title; minus
(ii) an amount equal to 71.6005 percent of the funds described in section 1300d–22 of this title.
(2) Distribution of funds to accounts in the Fund Account 
The Secretary shall ensure that the aggregate amount transferred under paragraph (1) is allocated to the accounts established in the Fund Account as follows:
(A) 28.9276 percent of that amount shall be allocated to the account established for the benefit of the tribal governing body of the Spirit Lake Tribe of North Dakota.
(B) 57.3145 percent of that amount, after payment of any applicable attorneys fees and expenses by the Secretary under the contract numbered A00C14202991, approved by the Secretary on August 16, 1988, shall be allocated to the account established for the benefit of the tribal governing body of the Sisseton and Wahpeton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota.
(C) 13.7579 percent of that amount shall be allocated to the account established for the benefit of the tribal governing body of the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation in Montana, as designated under subsection (c) of this section.
(b) Use 
Amounts distributed under this section to accounts referred to in subsection (d) of this section for the benefit of a tribal governing body shall be distributed and used in a manner consistent with section 1300d–24 of this title.
(c) Tribal governing body of Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of Fort Peck Reservation 
For purposes of making distributions of funds pursuant to this part, the Sisseton and Wahpeton Sioux Council of the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes shall act as the governing body of the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation.
(d) Tribal Trust Fund Accounts 
The Secretary of the Treasury, in cooperation with the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Office of Trust Fund Management of the Department of the Interior, shall ensure that such accounts as are necessary are established in the Fund Account to provide for the distribution of funds under subsection (a)(2) of this section.

25 USC 1300d24 - Use of distributed funds

(a) Prohibition 
No funds allocated for a covered Indian tribe under section 1300d–23 of this title may be used to make per capita payments to members of the covered Indian tribe.
(b) Purposes 
The funds allocated under section 1300d–23 of this title may be used, administered, and managed by a tribal governing body referred to in section 1300d–23 (a)(2) of this title only for the purpose of making investments or expenditures that the tribal governing body determines to be reasonably related to
(1) economic development that is beneficial to the covered Indian tribe;
(2) the development of resources of the covered Indian tribe;
(3) the development of programs that are beneficial to members of the covered Indian tribe, including educational and social welfare programs;
(4) the payment of any existing obligation or debt (existing as of the date of the distribution of the funds) arising out of any activity referred to in paragraph (1), (2), or (3);
(5) 
(A) the payment of attorneys fees or expenses of any covered Indian tribe referred to in subparagraph (A) or (C) of section 1300d–23 (a)(2) of this title for litigation or other representation for matters arising out of the enactment of part A of this subchapter; except that
(B) the amount of attorneys fees paid by a covered Indian tribe under this paragraph with funds distributed under section 1300d–23 of this title shall not exceed 10 percent of the amount distributed to that Indian tribe under that section;
(6) the payment of attorneys fees or expenses of the covered Indian tribe referred to in section 1300d–23 (a)(2)(B) of this title for litigation and other representation for matters arising out of the enactment of part A of this subchapter, in accordance, as applicable, with the contracts numbered A00C14203382 and A00C14202991, that the Secretary approved on February 10, 1978 and August 16, 1988, respectively; or
(7) the payment of attorneys fees or expenses of any covered Indian tribe referred to in section 1300d–23 (a)(2) of this title for litigation or other representation with respect to matters arising out of this part.
(c) Management 
Subject to subsections (a), (b), and (d) of this section, any funds distributed to a covered Indian tribe pursuant to sections 1300d–23 and 1300d–26 of this title may be managed and invested by that Indian tribe pursuant to the American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.).
(d) Withdrawal of funds by covered tribes 

(1) In general 
Subject to paragraph (2), each covered Indian tribe may, at the discretion of that Indian tribe, withdraw all or any portion of the funds distributed to the Indian tribe under sections 1300d–23 and 1300d–26 of this title in accordance with the American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act[1] (25 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.).
(2) Exemption 
For purposes of paragraph (1), the requirements under subsections (a) and (b) of section 202 of the American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act[1] (25 U.S.C. 4022 (a) and (b)) and section 203 of such Act (25 U.S.C. 4023) shall not apply to a covered Indian tribe or the Secretary.
(3) Rule of construction 
Nothing in paragraph (2) may be construed to limit the applicability of section 202(c) of the American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act[1] (25 U.S.C. 4022 (c)).
[1] So in original. Probably should be followed by “of 1994”.

25 USC 1300d25 - Effect of payments to covered Indian tribes on benefits

A payment made to a covered Indian tribe or an individual under this part shall not
(1) for purposes of determining the eligibility for a Federal service or program of a covered Indian tribe, household, or individual, be treated as income or resources; or
(2) otherwise result in the reduction or denial of any service or program to which, pursuant to Federal law (including the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 301 et seq.)), the covered Indian tribe, household, or individual would otherwise be entitled.

25 USC 1300d26 - Distribution of funds to lineal descendants

(a) In general 
Subject to section 1300d–27 (e) of this title, the Secretary shall, in the manner prescribed in section 1300d–4 (c) of this title, distribute to the lineal descendants of the Sisseton and Wahpeton Tribes of Sioux Indians an amount equal to 71.6005 percent of the funds described in section 1300d–22 of this title, subject to any reduction determined under subsection (b) of this section.
(b) Adjustments 

(1) In general 
Subject to section 1300d–27 (e) of this title, if the number of individuals on the final roll of lineal descendants certified by the Secretary under section 1300d–3 (b) of this title is less than 2,588, the Secretary shall distribute a reduced aggregate amount to the lineal descendants referred to in subsection (a) of this section, determined by decreasing
(A) the percentage specified in section 1300d–23 (a)(B)(ii)1 of this title by a percentage amount equal to
(i) .0277; multiplied by
(ii) the difference between 2,588 and the number of lineal descendants on the final roll of lineal descendants, but not to exceed 600; and
(B) the percentage specified in subsection (a) of this section by the percentage amount determined under subparagraph (A).
(2) Distribution 
If a reduction in the amount that otherwise would be distributed under subsection (a) of this section is made under paragraph (1), an amount equal to that reduction shall be added to the amount available for distribution under section 1300d–23 (a)(1) of this title, for distribution in accordance with section 1300d–23 (a)(2) of this title.
(c) Verification of ancestry 
In seeking to verify the Sisseton and Wahpeton Mississippi Sioux Tribe ancestry of any person applying for enrollment on the roll of lineal descendants after January 1, 1998, the Secretary shall certify that each individual enrolled as a lineal descendant can trace ancestry to a specific Sisseton or Wahpeton Mississippi Sioux Tribe lineal ancestor who was listed on
(1) the 1909 Sisseton and Wahpeton annuity roll;
(2) the list of Sisseton and Wahpeton Sioux prisoners convicted for participating in the outbreak referred to as the 1862 Minnesota Outbreak;
(3) the list of Sioux scouts, soldiers, and heirs identified as Sisseton and Wahpeton Sioux on the roll prepared pursuant to the Act of March 3, 1891 (26 Stat. 989 et seq., chapter 543); or
(4) any other Sisseton or Wahpeton payment or census roll that preceded a roll referred to in paragraph (1), (2), or (3).
[1] So in original. Probably should be section “1300d–23(a)(1)(B)(ii)”.

25 USC 1300d27 - Jurisdiction; procedure

(a) Actions authorized 
In any action brought by or on behalf of a lineal descendant or any group or combination of those lineal descendants to challenge the constitutionality or validity of distributions under this part to any covered Indian tribe, any covered Indian tribe, separately, or jointly with another covered Indian tribe, shall have the right to intervene in that action to
(1) defend the validity of those distributions; or
(2) assert any constitutional or other claim challenging the distributions made to lineal descendants under this part.
(b) Jurisdiction and venue 

(1) Exclusive original jurisdiction 
Subject to paragraph (2), only the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, and for the districts in North Dakota and South Dakota, shall have original jurisdiction over any action brought to contest the constitutionality or validity under law of the distributions authorized under this part.
(2) Consolidation of actions 
After the filing of a first action under subsection (a) of this section, all other actions subsequently filed under that subsection shall be consolidated with that first action.
(3) Jurisdiction by the United States Court of Federal Claims 
If appropriate, the United States Court of Federal Claims shall have jurisdiction over an action referred to in subsection (a) of this section.
(c) Notice to covered tribes 
In an action brought under this section, not later than 30 days after the service of a summons and complaint on the Secretary that raises a claim identified in subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary shall send a copy of that summons and complaint, together with any responsive pleading, to each covered Indian tribe by certified mail with return receipt requested.
(d) Statute of limitations 
No action raising a claim referred to in subsection (a) of this section may be filed after the date that is 365 days after November 13, 1998.
(e) Special rule 

(1) Final judgment for lineal descendants 

(A) In general 
If an action that raises a claim referred to in subsection (a) of this section is brought, and a final judgment is entered in favor of 1 or more lineal descendants referred to in that subsection, section 1300d–23 (a) of this title and subsections (a) and (b) of section 1300d–26 of this title shall not apply to the distribution of the funds described in subparagraph (B).
(B) Distribution of funds 
Upon the issuance of a final judgment referred to in subparagraph (A) the Secretary shall distribute 100 percent of the funds described in section 1300d–22 of this title to the lineal descendants in a manner consistent with
(i) section 202(c) of Public Law 92555 (25 U.S.C. 1300d–4 (c)); and
(ii) section 202(a) of Public Law 92555 [25 U.S.C. 1300d–4 (a)], as in effect on the day before November 13, 1998.
(2) Final judgment for covered Indian tribes 

(A) In general 
If an action that raises a claim referred to in subsection (a) of this section is brought, and a final judgment is entered in favor of 1 or more covered Indian tribes that invalidates the distributions made under this part to lineal descendants, section 1300d–23 (a) of this title, other than the percentages under section 1300d–23 (a)(2) of this title, and subsections (a) and (b) of section 1300d–26 of this title shall not apply.
(B) Distribution of funds 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the issuance of a final judgment referred to in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall distribute 100 percent of the funds described in section 1300d–22 of this title to each covered Indian tribe in accordance with the judgment and the percentages for distribution contained in section 1300d–23 (a)(2) of this title.
(f) Limitation on claims by a covered Indian tribe 

(1) In general 
If any covered Indian tribe receives any portion of the aggregate amounts transferred by the Secretary to a Fund Account or any other account under section 1300d–23 of this title, no action may be brought by that covered Indian tribe in any court for a claim arising from the distribution of funds under part A of this subchapter.
(2) Rule of construction 
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the right of a covered Indian tribe to
(A) intervene in an action that raises a claim referred to in subsection (a) of this section; or
(B) limit the jurisdiction of any court referred to in subsection (b) of this section, to hear and determine any such claims.