An Act to amend the Indian Claims Commission Act of August 13, 1946, and for other purposes.
Public Law 95-243 · S. 838 · 95th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Mar 13, 1978 · Native Americans
Sponsor: Sen. James Abourezk (D-SD)
Cosponsors: None
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.
Amends the Indian Claims Commission Act of 1946 to empower the Court of Claims to review and enter appropriate judgement upon the Commission's decision that the Act of February 28, 1977 (19 Stat. 254) constituted a taking of portion of the Great Sioux Reservation.
Provides that in conducting such review the Court shall receive and consider any additional evidence that may be presented on the issue of a fifth amendment taking and shall determine that issue de novo.
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. 13 actions.
- Mar 13, 1978Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-243.
- Mar 1, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Feb 28, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Feb 27, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment.
- Feb 9, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H. R. 2664.
- May 4, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
- May 3, 1977FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- Apr 29, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Indian Affairs Committee
- Mar 1, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Indian Affairs 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.