This part says what the words in the law mean. It says which BIA offices are covered. It says what a mortgage package is. It names three federal groups that back loans on Indian land.
The document says “means”Who acts: CongressHow: statuteSec. 2 in the PDF
What the document says
“The term ``applicable Bureau office'' means-- (A) a Regional office of the Bureau; (B) an Agency office of the Bureau; or (C) a Land Titles and Records Office of the Bureau.”
The deadlines in section 3 run against an applicable Bureau office, and this definition fixes which offices those are: Regional, Agency, and Land Titles and Records offices.
What the document actually says
“The term ``applicable Bureau office'' means-- (A) a Regional office of the Bureau; (B) an Agency office of the Bureau; or (C) a Land Titles and Records Office of the Bureau.”
That sentence, in plain words
The law says BIA office. It means one of three kinds. One is a Regional office. One is an Agency office. One is a Land Titles and Records Office.
What this is about
The BIA is the Bureau of Indian Affairs. It runs many offices. Only these three kinds do the work in this law.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “means”Who acts: CongressHow: statuteSec. 2 in the PDF
What the document says
“The term ``Bureau'' means the Bureau of Indian Affairs.”
Every later use of Bureau in the Act carries this meaning.
What the document actually says
“The term ``Bureau'' means the Bureau of Indian Affairs.”
That sentence, in plain words
The word Bureau means the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
What this is about
It is the office that looks after much land held in trust for tribes.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “means”Who acts: CongressHow: statuteSec. 2 in the PDF
What the document says
“The term ``Director'' means the Director of the Bureau.”
The Director is the officer the Act charges with the annual report in section 3(e) and with creating the Realty Ombudsman position in section 4.
What the document actually says
“The term ``Director'' means the Director of the Bureau.”
That sentence, in plain words
The word Director means the head of the BIA.
What this is about
Later parts of the law give the Director jobs to do. One is a report each year.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “means”Who acts: CongressHow: statuteSec. 2 in the PDF
What the document says
“The term ``first certified title status report'' means the title status report needed to verify title status on Indian land.”
The first report is the one that establishes title status. Section 3(a)(4) sets deadlines for completing it.
What the document actually says
“The term ``first certified title status report'' means the title status report needed to verify title status on Indian land.”
That sentence, in plain words
A first title report is the report used to check who holds title to Indian land.
What this is about
Title means legal ownership. A lender wants to know who owns the land before it lends.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “means”Who acts: CongressHow: statuteSec. 2 in the PDF
What the document says
“The term ``Indian land'' has the meaning given the term in section 162.003 of title 25, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).”
The Act does not define Indian land in its own words. It adopts the definition in 25 C.F.R. 162.003 as that regulation stood on the date of enactment.
What the document actually says
“The term ``Indian land'' has the meaning given the term in section 162.003 of title 25, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).”
That sentence, in plain words
The words Indian land mean what they mean in a federal rule book. The rule is section 162.003 of title 25.
What this is about
That rule book is not indexed here. This site does not say what it holds.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “means”Who acts: CongressHow: statuteSec. 2 in the PDF
What the document says
“The term ``land mortgage'' means a mortgage obtained by an individual Indian who owns a tract of trust land for the purpose of-- (A) home acquisition; (B) home construction; (C) home improvements; or (D) economic development.”
A land mortgage is taken by an individual Indian owner of a tract of trust land, for one of the four purposes listed.
What the document actually says
“The term ``land mortgage'' means a mortgage obtained by an individual Indian who owns a tract of trust land for the purpose of-- (A) home acquisition; (B) home construction; (C) home improvements; or (D) economic development.”
That sentence, in plain words
A land loan is taken by one Indian person who owns trust land. It is for buying, building, or fixing a home. It can also be for growing a business.
What this is about
This kind of loan is on the land itself. Other loans in this law are on a lease.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “means”Who acts: CongressHow: statuteSec. 2 in the PDF
What the document says
“The term ``leasehold mortgage'' means a mortgage, deed of trust, or other instrument that pledges the leasehold interest of a lessee as security for a debt or other obligation owed by the lessee to a lender or other mortgagee.”
A leasehold mortgage pledges a lessee's interest in the lease rather than the land itself.
What the document actually says
“The term ``leasehold mortgage'' means a mortgage, deed of trust, or other instrument that pledges the leasehold interest of a lessee as security for a debt or other obligation owed by the lessee to a lender or other mortgagee.”
That sentence, in plain words
A lease loan puts up the renter's rights in the land as backing for a debt.
What this is about
A lease lets a person use land they do not own. That right can back a loan.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “means”Who acts: CongressHow: statuteSec. 2 in the PDF
What the document says
“The term ``mortgage package'' means a proposed residential leasehold mortgage, business leasehold mortgage, land mortgage, or right-of-way document submitted to an applicable Bureau office under section 3(a)(1).”
The term gathers the four kinds of document the Act puts on a clock, once one has been submitted to an applicable Bureau office.
What the document actually says
“The term ``mortgage package'' means a proposed residential leasehold mortgage, business leasehold mortgage, land mortgage, or right-of-way document submitted to an applicable Bureau office under section 3(a)(1).”
That sentence, in plain words
A mortgage package is a home loan, a business loan, a land loan, or a right of way paper. It has been sent to a BIA office.
What this is about
The law sets time limits for these packages. Section 3 says how long each step may take.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “means”Who acts: CongressHow: statuteSec. 2 in the PDF
What the document says
“The term ``relevant Federal agency'' means any of the following Federal agencies that guarantee or make direct mortgage loans on Indian land: (A) The Department of Agriculture. (B) The Department of Housing and Urban Development. (C) The Department of Veterans Affairs.”
Three departments are named: Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, and Veterans Affairs. They are the agencies given TAAMS access under section 3(d) and delivery of title status reports under section 3(c).
What the document actually says
“The term ``relevant Federal agency'' means any of the following Federal agencies that guarantee or make direct mortgage loans on Indian land: (A) The Department of Agriculture. (B) The Department of Housing and Urban Development. (C) The Department of Veterans Affairs.”
That sentence, in plain words
Three federal groups back loans on Indian land. One deals with farms. One deals with homes. One deals with those who served.
What this is about
These groups either lend the money or promise to pay a lender back.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “means”Who acts: CongressHow: statuteSec. 2 in the PDF
What the document says
“The term ``right-of-way document'' has the meaning given the term in section 169.2 of title 25, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).”
The Act adopts the definition in 25 C.F.R. 169.2 as that regulation stood on the date of enactment.
What the document actually says
“The term ``right-of-way document'' has the meaning given the term in section 169.2 of title 25, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).”
That sentence, in plain words
The words right of way paper mean what they mean in a federal rule book. The rule is section 169.2 of title 25.
What this is about
A right of way lets someone run a road, a pipe, or a wire across land. The rule book is not indexed here.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “means”Who acts: CongressHow: statuteSec. 2 in the PDF
What the document says
“The term ``subsequent certified title status report'' means the title status report needed to identify any liens against a residential, business, or land lease on Indian land.”
The later report is the one that identifies liens. Section 3(a)(4) sets the deadline for completing it.
What the document actually says
“The term ``subsequent certified title status report'' means the title status report needed to identify any liens against a residential, business, or land lease on Indian land.”
That sentence, in plain words
A later title report is the one used to find liens on a lease of Indian land.
What this is about
A lien is a claim on land for a debt. The report shows if any claim exists.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
Each of the eleven terms the section defines, one entry apiece, with the words of the definition itself.
Nothing in the section is left out.
Two of the definitions, Indian land and right-of-way document, take their meaning from title 25 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Those regulations are not indexed here, so nothing recorded here says what they provide. The definition of Indian tribe used in section 3 comes from an older statute and is not in this section.
