# Plain Language Summary: Long-Term Leasing for Wampanoag Tribal Lands

This bill makes a change to a 1955 federal law that controls how long Native American tribes can lease their land. Right now, that law limits leases to 25 years. This bill would allow the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah)—both located in Massachusetts—to lease their land for up to 99 years instead.

Why does this matter? Longer leases make it much easier for tribes to borrow money or attract business investment. When a bank or business considers a 25-year lease, they worry about what happens when it expires. A 99-year lease gives them confidence that their investment will be protected for generations. This could help these tribes develop housing, businesses, or other projects on their reservation lands. It also gives the tribes more flexibility in how they use their own property and generate income for their communities.

The practical effect is straightforward: this gives two specific Wampanoag tribes the same long-term leasing power that many other property owners take for granted. It's a tool to help these communities build economic stability and control their own development without having to go back to Congress every time they want to make a long-term deal. The change only applies to these two tribes and their specific reservation lands held in federal trust.

A bill to amend the Act of August 9, 1955 (commonly known as the "Long-Term Leasing Act"), to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land in the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation and land held in trust for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), and for other purposes.

Markey, Edward J.

<p>This bill authorizes the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah)&nbsp;to lease their land held in trust for a term of up to 99 years. Both tribes are located in Massachusetts.</p>