An Act to reinstate the Modoc, Wyandotte, Peoria, and Ottawa Indian Tribes of Oklahoma as federally supervised and recognized Indian tribes.
Public Law 95-281 · S. 661 · 95th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on May 15, 1978 · Native Americans
Sponsor: Sen. Dewey Bartlett (R-OK)
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.
Restores Federal recognition to the Wyandotte, Ottawa, and Peoria Tribes of Oklahoma. Repeals the three Acts of August 1-3, 1956, which terminated the Federal relationship with these tribes.
Reinstates all rights and privileges of each such tribe under Federal treaty, statute, or otherwise which was lost because of termination. Declares that nothing in this Act shall diminish any such rights or privileges enjoyed by each such tribe which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act. Declares that nothing in this Act shall alter any contractual or property rights or obligations.
Recognizes the Modoc Indian Tribe of Oklahoma as a tribe of Indians residing in Oklahoma, and extends the provisions of the Act of June 26, 1936, to such tribe and its members.
Excludes the Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma from the provisions of the Act of 1954, which terminated the Klamath Tribe of Oregon, except in the case of sharing the proceeds of any claim against the United States. Sets forth the criteria for membership of the Modoc Indian Tribe of Oklahoma.
Extends the Act of June 26, 1936, to the Ottawa and Peoria Tribes. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to assist them in reorganizing under such Act.
Confirms the validity of the organization of the Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma under such Act.
Declares that the restoration of the Ottawa, Peoria, and Wyandotte Tribes and the organization of the Modoc Tribe satisfies the requirement that these tribes be restored to Federal recognition before they have any right or interest in the lands held in trust for them by the United States.
Entitles these tribes to participate in all programs and services provided to Indians in their status as Indians.
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.
- May 15, 1978Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-281.
- May 4, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- May 3, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- May 2, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments.
- Apr 11, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R. 2497.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.
- Nov 4, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
- Nov 3, 1977FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Nov 1, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Indian Affairs Committee
- Feb 7, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources 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.