SENATE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES LAND TRANSFER ACT FOR PALA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS

Source: Pala Band of Mission Indians

July 22, 2023 (Pala) -- The United States Senate this week passed H.R. 423, the Pala Band of Mission Indians Land Transfer Act of 2023, by unanimous consent.  H.R. 423, introduced by U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), places approximately 721 acres of sacred land the Pala Band of Mission Indians currently owns into trust.  

“On behalf of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, we thank Congressman Issa, Senator Padilla, Senator Feinstein and their colleagues for supporting this very important piece of legislation,” said Chairman Robert Smith of the Pala Band of Mission Indians. “With the passage of this legislation, our ancestral grounds, which are central to our spiritual and cultural traditions, will be forever protected as part of the Pala Reservation.”

An earlier version of the Land Transfer Act was first introduced in 2021.

H.R. 423 now heads to the President for signature.

The Pala Band of Mission Indians is a federally recognized tribe whose reservation is located along the Palomar Mountain range approximately 30 miles northeast of San Diego. The majority of the over 900 tribal members live on the 12,000-acre reservation, established for Cupeño and Luiseño Indians, who consider themselves to be one proud people