119-S-1513 Journalist Public Summary

Headline Summary

A land-transfer bill: move roughly 1,082.63 acres near the Elwha River into federal trust for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, fold it into the reservation, and ban casinos on that land. [1]Congress.gov — Text - S.1513 (119th): Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands R…

What It Does

The bill directs the federal government to take about 1,082.63 acres—currently federal parcels near Olympic National Park—into trust for the Tribe and treat them as part of the Lower Elwha Reservation. It also bars gaming on the transferred land and recognizes that a portion of the Elwha River within the area will be managed consistent with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. [1]Congress.gov — Text - S.1513 (119th): Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands R…

Who’s For It

• Sen. Maria Cantwell (D‑WA), sponsor, and Sen. Patty Murray (D‑WA), original cosponsor. [3]Congress.gov — Cosponsors – S.1513 (119th Congress)
• Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe leadership, citing the bill as a key step in the Elwha River restoration and salmon recovery effort. [4]Office of Rep. Emily Randall — Randall, Cantwell, Murray Introduce Legislation…
• Rep. Emily Randall (D‑WA‑06), who introduced the House companion (H.R. 2388) and promotes the same land‑into‑trust goal. [4]Office of Rep. Emily Randall — Randall, Cantwell, Murray Introduce Legislation…

Who’s Against It

• No organized opposition has been prominently publicized to date. In similar land transfers, concerns sometimes center on changing National Park Service management or potential gaming—but this bill explicitly prohibits gaming on the transferred land. [1]Congress.gov — Text - S.1513 (119th): Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands R…

What’s Next

The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs held a legislative hearing on December 17, 2025. Next steps could include a committee markup, a vote to report the bill, and consideration by the full Senate. A House companion (H.R. 2388) exists and was placed on the Union Calendar on September 15, 2025, but S. 1513 itself remains at the “Introduced” stage in the Senate as of now. [2]U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs — Senate Indian Affairs Committee – Leg…[5]Congress.gov — All Information – S.1513 (119th Congress)[6]Congress.gov — Overview – S.1513 (119th Congress)

Key Numbers