Overview

Title

To amend the Miccosukee Reserved Area Act to authorize the expansion of the Miccosukee Reserved Area and to carry out activities to protect structures within the Osceola Camp from flooding, and for other purposes.

ELI5 AI

H.R. 504 is like a plan to make a special area for the Miccosukee people bigger and make sure their houses don't get wet when it rains too much. This plan also says the grown-ups have to work together to figure out how to keep everything safe.

Summary AI

H.R. 504 seeks to amend the Miccosukee Reserved Area Act by expanding the Miccosukee Reserved Area to include the Osceola Camp. The bill proposes measures to protect structures within this area from flooding, with the Secretary responsible for implementing these actions in consultation with the Tribe within two years. Additionally, it ensures that the map detailing this expansion is accessible to the public and relevant local authorities.

Published

2025-01-16
Congress: 119
Session: 1
Chamber: HOUSE
Status: Introduced in House
Date: 2025-01-16
Package ID: BILLS-119hr504ih

Keywords AI

miccosukee reserved area osceola camp flood protection everglades national park land expansion federal legislation indigenous rights environmental impact public consultation infrastructure funding

Sources

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
3
Words:
471
Pages:
3
Sentences:
11

Language

Nouns: 164
Verbs: 35
Adjectives: 10
Adverbs: 3
Numbers: 16
Entities: 39

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.24
Average Sentence Length:
42.82
Token Entropy:
4.70
Readability (ARI):
23.40

AnalysisAI

General Summary of the Bill

The bill at hand, titled the "Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act," seeks to modify the existing Miccosukee Reserved Area Act. Primarily, the bill aims to expand the Miccosukee Reserved Area to include the Osceola Camp, a section of the Everglades National Park. Additionally, the Act mandates the implementation of measures to prevent flooding in this newly incorporated area. This responsibility is designated to the Secretary in collaboration with the Miccosukee Tribe, with a deadline for action set at two years subsequent to the Act's enactment.

Summary of Significant Issues

Several critical issues emerge upon reviewing the bill.

  1. Financial and Implementation Ambiguities: One significant concern is the absence of a clear funding source or budget for the flood prevention efforts. This omission could result in financial uncertainties regarding the protection measures required for the Osceola Camp.

  2. Lack of Specificity: There is a lack of detail regarding what constitutes the "appropriate actions" necessary for flood mitigation. Such vagueness can lead to potential misunderstandings and could impact the effectiveness of flood prevention measures.

  3. Potential Favoritism: The bill does not provide comprehensive reasoning or context for the area expansion within the Everglades, which might lead to perceptions of favoritism toward certain groups without sufficient justification.

  4. Urgency and Delays: By setting a timeline of two years for the required flood protection actions, the bill may inadvertently delay critical interventions if flooding risks are immediate or urgent, potentially exacerbating structural vulnerabilities at the Osceola Camp.

  5. Clarification of Terms Required: The term "Miccosukee Reserved Area," while central to understanding the scope of the bill, is not explicitly defined in the short title section or detailed elsewhere in the text, thus leading to potential ambiguities regarding the area in question.

Potential Impact on the Public

Broadly, the bill touches on environmental management and the expansion of tribal land within a nationally significant ecosystem, the Everglades National Park. Should the bill successfully result in enhanced flood protection, it could provide positive ecological outcomes and safeguard the infrastructure within the new area, benefiting both the local ecology and community stakeholders.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

For the Miccosukee Tribe, this bill presents potential positive implications by formally incorporating the Osceola Camp into their reserved area. Such inclusion could strengthen tribal authority and possibly improve local governance regarding environmental and flood management. However, the absence of a dedicated funding stream and clear protective measures might introduce challenges in achieving the intended protective outcomes.

For local governments and the National Park Service, additional responsibilities in mapping and administrating this newly designated area underscore the need for cooperation and efficient resource allocation. Poor planning or coordination might dilute their effectiveness, thus affecting their ability to support both the Miccosukee Tribe and the broader public interest in preserving the Everglades' integrity.

While the bill endeavors to forward the objectives of environmental protection and territorial acknowledgment, its current format raises several points that require clarification and discussion to ensure its success and widespread adoption.

Issues

  • The absence of a specified budget or funding source for the implementation of protective measures against flooding in Osceola Camp could lead to financial uncertainty and potentially compromise the effectiveness of these actions. (Section 3)

  • The lack of detail regarding what 'appropriate actions' entail for the protection of Osceola Camp from flooding introduces ambiguity and could lead to misinterpretation or inadequate implementation. (Section 3)

  • There is a risk of the Miccosukee Reserved Area expansion being perceived as favoring certain groups without sufficient justification due to the lack of detailed reasoning or implications associated with the expansion. (Section 2)

  • The timeline of 'not later than 2 years after the date of enactment' for protection actions against flooding might delay necessary immediate interventions if flooding risks are urgent, potentially endangering the Osceola Camp structures. (Section 3)

  • The section entitled 'Short title' provides only a title and lacks details regarding the bill’s content and implications, making it challenging to evaluate its broader impact or identify potential issues. (Section 1)

  • The term 'Miccosukee Reserved Area' is not defined within the short title section, leading to possible ambiguity concerning the specific area addressed by the Act. (Section 1)

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Short title Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The first section of this act provides its official short title, which is the “Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act.”

2. Miccosukee Reserved Area Addition Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section amends the Miccosukee Reserved Area Act to include a new area known as "Osceola Camp" within the Miccosukee Reserved Area. This land is part of the Everglades National Park, and maps showing this addition will be available for public viewing and filed with the relevant local authorities.

3. Protection of the Osceola Camp from flooding Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section amends the Miccosukee Reserved Area Act to require the Secretary, in cooperation with the Tribe, to take necessary steps to prevent flooding at the Osceola Camp within two years of the enactment of this subsection.