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Congressional hearing backs 99-year leasing authority for Mashpee and Aquinnah Wampanoag tribes
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Summary
HR 681, a measure to amend the Long Term Leasing Act and extend 99‑year leasing authority to the Mashpee Wampanoag and the Aquinnah (Gay Head) Wampanoag tribes, drew unified support from tribal leaders and Administration witnesses at a Sept. 16 hearing of the House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs.
HR 681, a measure to amend the Long Term Leasing Act and extend 99‑year leasing authority to the Mashpee Wampanoag and the Aquinnah (Gay Head) Wampanoag tribes, drew unified support from tribal leaders and Administration witnesses at a Sept. 16 hearing of the House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs. Proponents said the longer lease terms would help tribes attract investment for housing, community facilities and economic development.
The bill would bring those two tribes “on equal footing with many other tribes that already have this authority,” Representative Bill Keating of Massachusetts said when introducing the measure. Keating added that longer lease terms can “unlock financing for housing, community facilities, as well as economic development.”
Why it matters: Supporters told the subcommittee that 99‑year leases provide lenders and developers with the predictability they need to underwrite long‑term projects. Cheryl Andrews Maltais, chairwoman of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), said the authority is essential for housing on Martha’s Vineyard, where she told the committee home prices are unaffordable for many tribal members. “99 year leases make it possible for us to attract investments, develop infrastructure, create housing opportunities, and support services like health care, education, and cultural preservation,” Maltais said.
The Department of the Interior also signaled support. Brian Mercier, director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, told the subcommittee that the department “supports this bill” and described it as a “straightforward amendment” that would provide parity with other tribes for long‑term planning. Ranking Member Representative Ledger Fernandez emphasized the bill’s role in economic development and said she is a cosponsor of similar fixes intended to avoid one‑by‑one legislative changes.
Discussion vs. action: The hearing was a policy review and fact‑finding session; no floor motion or committee vote occurred during the hearing. Witnesses and members discussed the practical impacts of the change (housing availability, mortgage access for tribal members, and project finance) and the committee signaled general bipartisan support for moving the measure forward.
Substantive concerns and context: Witnesses noted that the Long Term Leasing Act has been amended many times and that nearly 60 tribes already have 99‑year authority. Maltais described a recent instance in which a tribe’s housing project approval took over a year and resulted in lost opportunity for a household. Supporters framed the change as restoring parity and enhancing tribal self‑determination over development on trust lands.
What’s next: The subcommittee will consider the bill as part of its markup and legislative calendar; members requested follow‑up materials from Interior and tribal witnesses. No formal committee action was recorded at the hearing.
Ending note: Proponents characterized HR 681 as a technical parity fix with direct, local consequences for housing and infrastructure; tribal leaders urged the committee to advance the bill to provide predictable leasing authority for future projects.
