Biden Signs Legislation Returning Land to Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

The federal government must return about 1,600 acres (647 hectares) of land to the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska that was “illegally” acquired in the 1970s, under new legislation signed into law by President Joe Biden on July 12.

The legislation—the bipartisan Winnebago Land Transfer Act—was introduced by Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and cosponsored by Sens. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa).

“Our bill becoming law corrects a decades-old wrong,” Ms. Fischer said in a statement announcing the signing of the bill.

“Now, we can finally return this land to the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. I want to thank my colleagues for their unanimous support and the Winnebago Tribe for their persistence and dedication to their people.”

Ms. Fischer introduced the legislation following years of legal challenges involving the tribe and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), which initially acquired the land more than 50 years ago through eminent domain proceedings for a proposed recreation project.

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