Lincoln Diaz-Balart: “H.R. 1476, The Miccosukee Settlement Act of 1997, approves and implements a settlement between the State of Florida and…”

“H.R. 1476, The Miccosukee Settlement Act of 1997, approves and implements a settlement between the State of Florida and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida regarding right-of-way usage and dredging during the construction of Interstate Highway I-75--``Alligator Alley''--across tribal lands in the Florida Everglades. This settlement authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to transfer title to certain strips of land used to dredge fill material for the construction of I-75 to the Florida Department of Transportation from its trust status, and in return directs the Secretary to take into trust for the Miccosukee Tribe as Miccosukee Indian Reservation several parcels of land as compensation. This land transfer is fully endorsed by the Florida Governor and Cabinet, who sit jointly as the trustees for Florida land and who voted unanimously in favor of this settlement. The Tribe also receives approximately $2 million, better access to its existing reservation through new access ramps on I-75, and airboat launch sites. I am pleased that the State and the tribe have worked out a fair solution and I recommend passage of the bill.”