Analyses / Whip Count Analysis / 119 · HR 165 Whip Count Analysis

119-HR-165 DC Insider Whip Count Analysis

119 · HR 165 Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act

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Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act This bill directs the Department of the Interior to complete all actions necessary to place approximately 40 acres of land in Oglala Lakota County,...

H.R. 165 cleared the House 416–0 on January 22, 2025, and passed the Senate by unanimous consent on December 11, 2025; it is enrolled and pending presidential action. With bicameral, bipartisan backing, support from the South Dakota delegation, and tribal endorsements, enactment odds are very high; even in the unlikely event of a veto, the vote margins suggest an override would succeed. [1]Congress.gov — Congress.gov – All Info for H.R.165 (119th): actions, vote 416–0…[2]Congress.gov — Congressional Record page S8685 – Senate unanimous consent passa…[3]U.S. Senate (Rounds) — Sen. Rounds press release — Senate passage; bill heads t…[4]U.S. House (Rep. Johnson) — Rep. Dusty Johnson press release — House passage an…

Analyzed as
DC Insider
Published
17 Dec 2025
Updated
17 Dec 2025
Tags
Whip Count · 119th Congress · Indian Affairs
Unvetted
01 · Section

Breakdown: expected support/opposition

Status as of December 17, 2025: Passed House and Senate; enrolled and on the President’s desk. [1]Congress.gov — Congress.gov – All Info for H.R.165 (119th): actions, vote 416–0…

House final vote (1/22/25)
416Yea (0 Nay)
Senate passage (12/11/25)
100UC—no objections recorded
  • House: Measure moved on the suspension calendar and passed 416–0, signaling unified support across GOP and Democratic caucuses. [1]Congress.gov — Congress.gov – All Info for H.R.165 (119th): actions, vote 416–0…
  • Senate: Reported without amendment by Indian Affairs, placed on the calendar, and passed by unanimous consent; no recorded floor opposition. [5]govinfo.gov — Senate Report 119-72 – Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred…[2]Congress.gov — Congressional Record page S8685 – Senate unanimous consent passa…
  • Enrollment: Congress.gov lists an enrolled text for H.R. 165, reflecting completion of bicameral action; message on Senate action transmitted to the House December 15. [1]Congress.gov — Congress.gov – All Info for H.R.165 (119th): actions, vote 416–0…
  • Interest groups: The Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe publicly backed the bill; sponsors highlighted tribal support when the House passed it. [4]U.S. House (Rep. Johnson) — Rep. Dusty Johnson press release — House passage an…
02 · Section

Key legislators / swing considerations

Given the unanimity in both chambers, there are no active swing votes. Pivotal actors were sponsors, committee chairs, and state delegation leads who smoothed procedure.

  • Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) — House sponsor; organized the suspension route and showcased tribal endorsements. [1]Congress.gov — Congress.gov – All Info for H.R.165 (119th): actions, vote 416–0…[4]U.S. House (Rep. Johnson) — Rep. Dusty Johnson press release — House passage an…
  • Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) — Senate lead; announced committee and floor milestones and that the bill heads to the President. [6]Web search · turn 5 #3[3]U.S. Senate (Rounds) — Sen. Rounds press release — Senate passage; bill heads t…
  • Sen. John Thune (R-SD) — Senate Majority Leader; co-led the Senate companion and controls floor time for low-controversy items. [7]Web search · turn 5 #4[8]U.S. Senate (Thune) — Sen. Thune press release — first remarks as Senate Majori…
  • Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) — Chair, Senate Committee on Indian Affairs; reported H.R. 165 without amendment, expediting UC passage. [5]govinfo.gov — Senate Report 119-72 – Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred…[9]U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs — Senate Indian Affairs — Chairman page…
  • Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) — Natural Resources Chair; managed House floor proceedings under suspension (moved to suspend), a leadership sign-off mechanism. [1]Congress.gov — Congress.gov – All Info for H.R.165 (119th): actions, vote 416–0…
03 · Section

Leadership positions and procedural dynamics

Institutional context in the 119th: GOP holds both chambers; John Thune is Senate Majority Leader; Mike Johnson is Speaker; Lisa Murkowski chairs Senate Indian Affairs. These alignments favored fast, amendment-free passage and enrollment.

  • Senate leadership: Thune is Majority Leader; his control of the UC and wrap-up blocks makes clearance of consensus items routine late in session. [8]U.S. Senate (Thune) — Sen. Thune press release — first remarks as Senate Majori…
  • House leadership: Johnson was reelected Speaker on January 3, 2025; allowing a suspension vote signaled no material GOP opposition. [10]CNBC — CNBC — Mike Johnson reelected Speaker on Jan. 3, 2025
  • Committee leverage: Murkowski, as Indian Affairs Chair, reported the bill without amendment (S. Rept. 119-72), conserving floor time and avoiding amendment trees. [5]govinfo.gov — Senate Report 119-72 – Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred…[9]U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs — Senate Indian Affairs — Chairman page…
  • Current status: Congress.gov shows enrolled text and Senate action messaged to the House; next step is presidential action. [1]Congress.gov — Congress.gov – All Info for H.R.165 (119th): actions, vote 416–0…
04 · Section

Assessment: likelihood of enactment

Bottom line from a whip perspective: the votes are already banked; the only remaining step is the President’s decision.

  • Probability of enactment: High. Bicameral passage was unanimous; tribes and the entire South Dakota delegation are on record in support. Public opposition is nonexistent on the floor or in committee records. [1]Congress.gov — Congress.gov – All Info for H.R.165 (119th): actions, vote 416–0…[3]U.S. Senate (Rounds) — Sen. Rounds press release — Senate passage; bill heads t…[4]U.S. House (Rep. Johnson) — Rep. Dusty Johnson press release — House passage an…
  • If vetoed: Override viability is strong. The House margin (416–0) exceeds the two‑thirds threshold; a Senate UC passage indicates at least no active objectors, suggesting 67+ votes are available if leadership calls an override. [1]Congress.gov — Congress.gov – All Info for H.R.165 (119th): actions, vote 416–0…[2]Congress.gov — Congressional Record page S8685 – Senate unanimous consent passa…
  • Timing: Senate passed on December 11, 2025; after enrollment and transmittal, the President faces the standard 10‑day (excluding Sundays) decision window while Congress remains in session; no further congressional action is required absent a veto. [1]Congress.gov — Congress.gov – All Info for H.R.165 (119th): actions, vote 416–0…
05 · Section

Sourcing (primary references)

Key materials underpinning this whip count are official legislative records, committee reports, and leadership/sponsor statements.

  • Congress.gov: H.R. 165 actions, vote tally (416–0), UC notation, and enrolled status. [1]Congress.gov — Congress.gov – All Info for H.R.165 (119th): actions, vote 416–0…
  • Congressional Record: Senate floor page S8685 (UC passage on 12/11/25). [2]Congress.gov — Congressional Record page S8685 – Senate unanimous consent passa…
  • Senate Committee on Indian Affairs report (S. Rept. 119-72) — legislative history and summary. [5]govinfo.gov — Senate Report 119-72 – Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred…
  • Sponsor/Delegation statements: Rounds and Johnson press releases (committee/senate passage; tribal endorsements). [3]U.S. Senate (Rounds) — Sen. Rounds press release — Senate passage; bill heads t…[4]U.S. House (Rep. Johnson) — Rep. Dusty Johnson press release — House passage an…
  • Leadership confirmations: Thune as Majority Leader; Johnson reelected Speaker. [8]U.S. Senate (Thune) — Sen. Thune press release — first remarks as Senate Majori…[10]CNBC — CNBC — Mike Johnson reelected Speaker on Jan. 3, 2025
Sources cited
  1. [1] Congress.gov – All Info for H.R.165 (119th): actions, vote 416–0, enrolled text noted Congress.gov
  2. [2] Congressional Record page S8685 – Senate unanimous consent passage (Dec. 11, 2025) Congress.gov
  3. [3] Sen. Rounds press release — Senate passage; bill heads to President (Dec. 11, 2025) U.S. Senate (Rounds)
  4. [4] Rep. Dusty Johnson press release — House passage and tribal endorsements (Jan. 22, 2025) U.S. House (Rep. Johnson)
  5. [5] Senate Report 119-72 – Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act govinfo.gov
  6. [6] Web search · turn 5 #3
  7. [7] Web search · turn 5 #4
  8. [8] Sen. Thune press release — first remarks as Senate Majority Leader (Jan. 3, 2025) U.S. Senate (Thune)
  9. [9] Senate Indian Affairs — Chairman page confirming Lisa Murkowski as chair (119th) U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
  10. [10] CNBC — Mike Johnson reelected Speaker on Jan. 3, 2025 CNBC
  11. [11] Reuters — Native groups condemn Pentagon decision on Wounded Knee medals (context) Reuters
  12. [12] Washington Post — Hegseth says Wounded Knee soldiers will keep Medals of Honor (context) Washington Post

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