# Plain Language Summary: Gabrielino/Tongva Nation Recognition Act of 2023

This bill officially recognizes the Gabrielino/Tongva Nation as a federally recognized Native American tribe. The Gabrielino/Tongva people are the original inhabitants of the Los Angeles Basin and surrounding islands, with over 2,000 archaeological sites documenting their presence in the area for thousands of years. While the tribe has historical connections to federal government records dating back to the 1890s and has been recognized by California and the City of Los Angeles, they have not had official federal recognition until now. This bill changes that status.

Once this bill becomes law, the Gabrielino/Tongva Nation and its members (currently over 700 people) become eligible for all federal services and benefits provided to Native American tribes and their citizens. This includes healthcare, education, housing assistance, and other programs administered by the federal government. Importantly, these benefits apply to tribe members regardless of where they live—they don't need to live on a reservation to receive services. The tribe's service area is defined as Los Angeles County, where most members live.

The bill also requires the federal government to acquire up to 300 acres of land within Los Angeles County and hold it in trust for the tribe within 90 days of the bill's passage. This land becomes the tribe's initial reservation. The tribe can later acquire additional land through normal federal processes. The tribe maintains complete control over its membership rolls and can make decisions about its own governance based on its constitution adopted in 2007. Essentially, this recognition restores the government-to-government relationship between the Gabrielino/Tongva Nation and the United States that was lost over the past century.