Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act

# Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act – Summary **What the Bill Does:** This bill would transfer approximately 40 acres of land in South Dakota to the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe to create a memorial and sacred site at Wounded Knee, the location of a historic 1890 massacre. The land would receive "restricted fee" status, meaning the tribes would own it but couldn't sell it or use it as collateral without federal approval. The bill explicitly prohibits commercial development and gambling operations on the site. **Who It Affects:** The primary beneficiaries are the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, whose members have ancestral connections to Wounded Knee.

The bill also affects the Department of the Interior, which must complete the necessary legal processes to transfer the land. It may have secondary impacts on South Dakota's tax base, since tribal lands typically aren't subject to state taxation. **Current Status:** The bill was introduced by Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) in the 119th Congress and is currently in committee, meaning it hasn't yet been debated or voted on by the full Senate.