Bill Overview
Title: MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians Recognition Act
Description: This bill extends federal recognition to the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians. The bill makes the tribe and its members eligible for services and benefits provided to federally recognized tribes and their members, without regard to the existence of a reservation or the location of the residence of any member. The service area of the tribe is considered to be Washington and Mobile Counties, Alabama. The tribe must submit a membership roll to the Department of the Interior. The tribe must maintain the membership roll. Interior must take land, not to exceed 3,223 acres, into trust for the benefit of the tribe.
Sponsors: Sen. Shelby, Richard C. [R-AL]
Target Audience
Population: Members of the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians
Estimated Size: 5000
- The MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians is currently not federally recognized, and recognition will grant them access to various federal benefits that other recognized tribes receive.
- Recognition could impact the ability of tribe members to receive health care services, education programs, and economic development assistance.
- Federal recognition often affects around several thousand members in similar tribes, based on prior recognitions.
- Tribal recognition can impact cultural preservation efforts and improve the tribe’s autonomy and governance.
- The bill specifies Washington and Mobile Counties, Alabama, as the service area, indicating regional impacts on Indian-affiliated services.
Reasoning
- The MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians Recognition Act is expected to directly impact up to 5,000 members as they become eligible for federal benefits. Given the geographic concentration in Washington and Mobile Counties, Alabama, we'll likely see localized economic and social improvements principally in these areas.
- While the primary beneficiaries are the tribe members, other individuals in the community could see indirect benefits from increased economic activity or services.
- Given the budget of $3 million in year 1 and a 10-year budget of just over $37 million, the policy is reasonably limited in scope, aligning with previous experiences from tribal recognitions. This influences the potential extent of programs but is sufficient for initial setup of health, education, and community development initiatives.
- Since the benefits rely heavily on existing federal programs administered by bodies like the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Service, infrastructure for these services already exists but needs enhancement.
- Not every individual, even within the MOWA community, will be equally affected; variability exists on factors like proximity to service areas and personal reliance on such programs.
Simulated Interviews
Health Worker (Washington County, Alabama)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have been advocating for our tribe's recognition for many years. This policy could help secure better healthcare and job opportunities for us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
School Teacher (Mobile County, Alabama)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a teacher, I think my students from the MOWA Band will greatly benefit from more educational resources.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Unemployed (Washington County, Alabama)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this policy means better job training programs and healthcare for my kids.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Law School Professor (Austin, Texas)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Federal recognition is an overdue step. It could set a precedent for recognizing other tribes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Retired (Washington County, Alabama)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With recognition, I hope for better cultural programs for our youth.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Software Engineer (Portland, Oregon)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't think this policy affects me at all.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Social Worker (Birmingham, Alabama)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This recognition could improve access to social services in the region.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
University Student (Mobile County, Alabama)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Federal recognition means more scholarship opportunities for my education.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Lobbyist (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 56 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Recognition helps secure rights and benefits for indigenous communities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Film Director (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This recognition could provide more stories for the media to highlight indigenous cultures.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $3000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $5000000)
Year 2: $3150000 (Low: $2100000, High: $5250000)
Year 3: $3307500 (Low: $2205000, High: $5512500)
Year 5: $3653610 (Low: $2435740, High: $6090850)
Year 10: $4400946 (Low: $2933964, High: $7334910)
Year 100: $14685000 (Low: $9760000, High: $24475000)
Key Considerations
- Recognition will enhance the tribe's access to federal funding and support, improving welfare via increased health, education, and safety services.
- Legal recognition solidifies the tribe's land base, with potential long-term economic and cultural benefits.
- This could set a precedent for other unrecognized tribes seeking similar recognition, impacting future federal budget constraints.
- Administrative costs include managing the tribe's membership roll and compliance with federal regulations for land held in trust.