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

S. 673 wants to make a special area for the Miccosukee Tribe bigger and keep it safe from floods. This means they will work to stop the water from hurting their homes in the park.

Summary AI

S. 673 aims to modify the Miccosukee Reserved Area Act by expanding the designated area to include the Osceola Camp within the Everglades National Park. The bill specifies that maps showing this area will be available to the public and filed with relevant authorities. It also mandates that the Secretary of the Interior, in partnership with the Miccosukee Tribe, must implement measures to protect structures at the Osceola Camp from flooding within two years of the bill's enactment.

Published

2025-02-20
Congress: 119
Session: 1
Chamber: SENATE
Status: Introduced in Senate
Date: 2025-02-20
Package ID: BILLS-119s673is

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
3
Words:
418
Pages:
3
Sentences:
11

Language

Nouns: 146
Verbs: 34
Adjectives: 9
Adverbs: 3
Numbers: 15
Entities: 40

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.22
Average Sentence Length:
38.00
Token Entropy:
4.66
Readability (ARI):
20.93

AnalysisAI

The bill titled "Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act" aims to authorize the expansion of the Miccosukee Reserved Area by officially including an additional section known as "Osceola Camp" within its boundaries. Moreover, the bill outlines actions to mitigate flooding risks for the Osceola Camp area.

General Summary

The primary goal of this bill is to amend the existing Miccosukee Reserved Area Act to include Osceola Camp as part of the Miccosukee Reserved Area. This expansion is depicted on a specific map, ensuring transparency and public accessibility by making copies available at the National Park Service and relevant local and tribal offices.

Additionally, the bill mandates that the Secretary of the Interior work with the Miccosukee Tribe to take necessary actions to shield the Osceola Camp from potential flooding. These protective measures must be executed within a two-year timeframe following the enactment of the bill.

Summary of Significant Issues

One key issue with the bill is the lack of detailed guidance on the specific actions required to protect the Osceola Camp from flooding. This vagueness may lead to implementation uncertainties or ineffective measures. The bill provides a two-year deadline for action but lacks interim guidelines or milestones to ensure accountability and timely progress.

Financial concerns also arise from this ambiguity. Without clear directives, there is a risk of uncontrolled spending or inefficient resource allocation. The lack of criteria to evaluate the success of flood protection measures could result in unclear outcomes, complicating the assessment and accountability of implemented actions.

Public Impact

In a broader sense, the bill could have varying impacts on the public and specific stakeholders. For the general public, the bill represents an effort to preserve cultural and environmental landmarks which contribute to the national heritage and biodiversity.

However, the financial implications of undefined actions may concern taxpayers, as lack of specificity may result in budget inefficiencies or overruns.

Stakeholder Impact

For the Miccosukee Tribe, the bill is significant. Expanding the Reserved Area to officially include Osceola Camp offers greater autonomy and control over culturally significant land. Protecting this area from flooding aligns with preserving the tribe's heritage and ensuring the safety and sustainability of their cultural sites.

On the other hand, local government entities like Miami-Dade County might face administrative and logistical challenges in coordinating with federal and tribal authorities to implement appropriate actions. These stakeholders would need to ensure compliance with environmental standards and manage potential impacts on local development plans or resource management.

In conclusion, while the bill aims positively at cultural preservation and environmental protection, its success depends heavily on addressing the issues of clarity, accountability, and financial responsibility. Each of these factors will determine the overall effectiveness and acceptance of the bill's implementation.

Issues

  • The section on the protection of the Osceola Camp from flooding (Section 3) lacks detailed guidance on the specific actions the Secretary must take, creating potential uncertainty in implementation and possibly leading to ineffective flood protection measures or oversight challenges.

  • The 'Protection of Osceola Camp from flooding' section (Section 3) provides a timeline of 'Not later than 2 years' for action but lacks clarity on interim milestones or progress checks, which could reduce accountability and delay necessary flood protection efforts.

  • Financial responsibility and budgeting concerns arise in Section 3 due to the vague directive for 'appropriate actions' to protect Osceola Camp from flooding, which could result in budget overruns or inefficient resource allocation without clear standards.

  • Section 1 only includes a short title, the 'Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act,' without detailed information about the provisions of the Act, which makes it difficult to assess potential hidden implications such as financial waste or favoritism.

  • The lack of specificity in Section 3 regarding the criteria or standards by which the success of flood protection measures will be evaluated may result in a lack of clear outcomes or objectives, complicating the assessment of efforts and resources dedicated to flood protection.

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

In SECTION 1, the bill is officially named 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 an additional area called "Osceola Camp" in the Miccosukee Reserved Area. This area is shown on a specific map and is available for public viewing at the National Park Service and with Miami-Dade County and the Tribe officials.

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

Summary AI

The Osceola Camp is to be protected from flooding through actions taken by the Secretary, who must work together with the Tribe. These protective measures must be completed within two years after this new regulation is enacted.