§1701. Congressional findings and declaration of policy

Congress finds and declares that-

(a) there are pending before the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island two consolidated actions that involve Indian claims to certain public and private lands within the town of Charlestown, Rhode Island;

(b) the pendency of these lawsuits has resulted in severe economic hardships for the residents of the town of Charlestown by clouding the titles to much of the land in the town, including lands not involved in the lawsuits;

(c) the Congress shares with the State of Rhode Island and the parties to the lawsuits a desire to remove all clouds on titles resulting from such Indian land claims within the State of Rhode Island; and

(d) the parties to the lawsuits and others interested in the settlement of Indian land claims within the State of Rhode Island have executed a Settlement Agreement which requires implementing legislation by the Congress of the United States and the legislature of the State of Rhode Island.

( Pub. L. 95–395, §2, Sept. 30, 1978, 92 Stat. 813 .)

Short Title

Section 1 of Pub. L. 95–395 provided: "That this Act [enacting this subchapter] may be cited as the 'Rhode Island Indian Claims Settlement Act'."

For short title of Pub. L. 96–420, which enacted subchapter II of this chapter as the "Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980", see section 1 of Pub. L. 96–420, set out as a Short Title note under section 1721 of this title.

For short title of Pub. L. 97–399, which enacted subchapter III of this chapter as the "Florida Indian Land Claims Settlement Act of 1982", see section 1 of Pub. L. 97–399, set out as a note under section 1741 of this title.

For short title of Pub. L. 98–134, which enacted subchapter IV of this chapter as the "Mashantucket Pequot Indian Claims Settlement Act", see section 1 of Pub. L. 98–134, set out as a note under section 1751 of this title.

For short title of Pub. L. 100–95, which enacted subchapter V of this chapter as the "Wampanoag Tribal Council of Gay Head, Inc., Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1987", see section 1 of Pub. L. 100–95, set out as a note under section 1771 of this title.

For short title of Pub. L. 100–228, which enacted subchapter VI of this chapter as the "Seminole Indian Land Claims Settlement Act of 1987", see section 1 of Pub. L. 100–228, set out as a note under section 1772 of this title.