PSI Sci
New here? Follow the money and the votes · Not sure of your district? Find your U.S. House member · Find your state legislators

H.R. 481: Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site Trust Act of 2005

Before you vote › Federal bills

H.R. 481: Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site Trust Act of 2005

109th Congress · introduced 2005-02-01 · Public Lands and Natural Resources · Latest: Became Public Law No: 109-45.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2005-02-01 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Musgrave, Marilyn N. [R-CO-4] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Became Public Law No: 109-45. (final step reached)
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site Trust Act of 2005

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on June 8, 2005. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site Trust Act of 2005 - Authorizes the United States to take into trust specified real property formerly known as Dawson Ranch, including rights to all minerals and excluding improvements, in Kiowa County, Colorado, owned by the Cheyenne and Arapaho Indian Tribes of Oklahoma. Directs the Tribes to convey title to the Dawson Ranch to the United States. Declares that all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Ranch except any facilities constructed pursuant to this Act, are to be held in trust by the United States for the Tribes. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire by donation the improvements in fee. Permits the Secretary to construct a facility on the Ranch only after consulting with, soliciting advice from, and obtaining the agreement of, the Tribe, the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, and the Northern Arapaho Tribe. States that: (1) facilities constructed with federal funds or funds donated to the United States shall be owned in fee by the United States; and (2) for purposes of the construction, maintenance, or demolition of improvements or facilities, federal funds shall be expended only on improvements or facilities that are owned in fee by the United States. Requires the Ranch to be administered in perpetuity by the Secretary as part of the Site only for historical, traditional, cultural, and other uses in accordance with the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site Establishment Act of 2000. Requires that, for purposes of administration, the Secretary shall have access to the Ranch, improvements, and facilities as necessary for the management of the Site in accordance with the Act. Instructs the Secretary to take such action as is necessary to ensure that the Ranch is used only in accordance with all such requirements for the administration of the Ranch. Amends the Act to allow the Secretary to acquire land and interests in land within the boundaries of the Site which are owned by the state of Colorado (including a political subdivision of that state) only by donation or exchange (currently, only by donation).

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed Senate without amendment), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site Trust Act of 2005

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed Senate without amendment)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Musgrave, Marilyn N. [R-CO-4] · 1 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 481, Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site Trust Act of 2005 (2005-05-20); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 481, Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site Trust Act of 2005 (2005-05-20)

Cosponsors on this site

Tom Cole (R-OK)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong109-hr481 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong109 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong109