Joint resolution American Indians Religious Freedom
Public Law 95-341 · S.J.Res. 102 · 95th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Aug 11, 1978 · Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Sponsor: Sen. James Abourezk (D-SD)
Cosponsors (9): Sen. Hubert Humphrey, Sen. Ted Kennedy,
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.
States that it shall be the policy of the United States to protect and preserve for Native Americans their inherent right of freedom to believe, express, and exercise their traditional religions. Requires the President to direct the various Federal departments, agencies, and other instrumentalities whose duties impact on the religious practices of Native Americans to evaluate their policies and procedures in consultation with Native religious leaders in order to determine and implement the changes necessary to protect and preserve Native American religious cultural rights and practices. 7/18/78 hfac080 Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H. J. Res. 738
Declares that it shall be the policy of the United States to protect and preserve the traditional religions of American Indians.
Requires the President to direct the Federal departments and agencies to evaluate their policies and procedures in consultation with native traditional religious leaders to determine appropriate changes necessary to protect Native American religious cultural rights and practices.
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.
- Aug 11, 1978Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-341.
- Aug 1, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Jul 31, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Jul 27, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment.
- Jul 18, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H. J. Res. 738.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.
- Apr 5, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
- Apr 3, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Mar 21, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Indian Affairs Committee
- Dec 15, 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.