Indian Crimes Act of 1976
Public Law 94-297 · S. 2129 · 94th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on May 29, 1976 · Native Americans
Sponsor: Sen. Paul Fannin (R-AZ)
Cosponsors (2): Sen. Roman Hruska, Sen. Pete Domenici
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Indian Crimes Act - Stipulates that Indians committing specified crimes within Indian country shall be subject to the same laws and penalties as all other persons committing such crimes within the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States, except that any such offenses not defined and punishable by Federal law shall be defined and punished by the laws of the State in which such offense was committed.
Provides that any person committing assault resulting in serious bodily injury within the maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States shall be fined not more than $10,000, or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.
Adds kidnapping to the list of crimes covered under the Indian Major Crimes Act.
Provides that all Indians committing any offense punishable under provisions of title 18, United States Code, relating to offenses committed within Indian country of such title shall be tried in the same courts and in the same manner as are all other persons committing such offense within the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 14 actions.
- May 29, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-297.
- May 24, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- May 20, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment.
- May 18, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Apr 13, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Judiciary Committee
- Feb 5, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Judiciary Committee
- Feb 4, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Feb 2, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Judiciary Committee
- Jul 16, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.