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Rhode Island Indian Claims Settlement Act

Public Law 95-395 · H.R. 12860 · 95th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Sep 30, 1978 · Native Americans

Sponsor: Rep. Edward Beard (D-RI-2)

Cosponsors (1): Rep. Fernand St. Germain

Passage votesYeaNay

  • HouseRecorded vote: 249 yea, 122 nay249–122
  • 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.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Rhode Island Indian Claims Settlement Act - Directs, upon findings by the Secretary of the Interior that the State of Rhode Island has enacted certain authorizing legislation, that any transfer of land or natural resources located within the United States from, by, or on behalf of the Rhode Island Indian Corporation, or any other entity known as the Narragansett Tribe of Indians, including but not limited to a transfer pursuant to any statute of any State, shall be deemed to have been made in accordance with the Constitution and all applicable laws of the United States.

Stipulates, upon such findings by the Secretary, that: (1) to the extent that any such transfer of land or natural resources may involve land or resources to which the Indian Corporation, or any other entity known as the Narragansett Tribe of Indians, had aboriginal title, such transfers shall be regarded as an extinguishment of such title as of the date of said transfer; and (2) by virtue of the approval of a transfer of land or resources effected by such transfers or an extinguishment of aboriginal title effected thereby, all claims against the United States, any State or subdivision thereof, or any other person or entity, by the Indian Corporation, or any other entity known as the Narragansett Tribe of Indians shall be extinguished.

Establishes in the United States Treasury the Rhode Island Indian Claims Settlement Fund into which $3,500,000 shall be deposited pursuant to this Act. Provides for the payment of an option fee equal to five percent of the fair market value to qualified private defendants with claims under this Act. Directs that upon creation of a State chartered corporation which satisfies specified criteria the Secretary shall exercise the options and assign lands purchased to the State Corporation.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 95th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 251 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

251 yea122 nay59 present or did not vote

Dimension 2
Economic left–right
More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(217)

  • Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
  • Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
  • Rep. Phillip BurtonD-CA-6
  • Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
  • Rep. Anthony BeilensonD-CA-23
  • Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-19
  • Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-10
  • Rep. James CormanD-CA-21
  • Rep. Gus HawkinsD-CA-29
  • Rep. John MossD-CA-3
  • Rep. Richard BollingD-MO-5
  • Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-9
  • Rep. Benjamin RosenthalD-NY-8
  • Rep. Ronald DellumsD-CA-8
  • Rep. Robert NixD-PA-2
  • Rep. Ralph MetcalfeD-IL-1
  • Rep. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
  • Rep. John McFallD-CA-14
  • Rep. Frank ThompsonD-NJ-4
  • Rep. George BrownD-CA-36
  • Rep. Theodore WeissD-NY-20
  • Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
  • Rep. Lloyd MeedsD-WA-2
  • Rep. George DanielsonD-CA-30
  • Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8
  • Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
  • Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
  • Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-24
  • Rep. William BurlisonD-MO-10
  • Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
  • Rep. Paul SimonD-IL-24
  • Rep. Richard NolanD-MN-6
  • Rep. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
  • Rep. Barbara JordanD-TX-18
  • Rep. David BoniorD-MI-12
  • Rep. Robert EckhardtD-TX-8
  • Rep. John BrademasD-IN-3
  • Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
  • Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
  • Rep. Edward PattenD-NJ-15
  • Rep. James HowardD-NJ-3
  • Rep. Harold JohnsonD-CA-1
  • Rep. Charles WilsonD-CA-31
  • Rep. Daniel AkakaD-HI-2
  • Rep. James WrightD-TX-12
  • Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-15
  • Rep. William BrodheadD-MI-17
  • Rep. Henry ReussD-WI-5
  • Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-13
  • Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
  • Rep. Elizabeth HoltzmanD-NY-16
  • Rep. Ozzie MyersD-PA-1
  • Rep. William MoorheadD-PA-14
  • Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
  • Rep. Daniel FloodD-PA-11
  • Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-14
  • Rep. Charles CarneyD-OH-19
  • Rep. Robert LeggettD-CA-4
  • Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
  • Rep. Albert UllmanD-OR-2
  • Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
  • Rep. Abner MikvaD-IL-10
  • Rep. Teno RoncalioD-WY
  • Rep. Joshua EilbergD-PA-4
  • Rep. Raymond LedererD-PA-3
  • Rep. Alvin BaldusD-WI-3
  • Rep. Harold FordD-TN-8
  • Rep. Robert DuncanD-OR-3
  • Rep. Jerry PattersonD-CA-38
  • Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
  • Rep. James BurkeD-MA-11
  • Rep. Lionel Van DeerlinD-CA-42
  • Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
  • Rep. Joseph LeFanteD-NJ-14
  • Rep. Frank EvansD-CO-3
  • Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
  • Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7
  • Rep. Frederick RooneyD-PA-15
  • Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
  • Rep. Richard OttingerD-NY-24
  • Rep. Helen MeynerD-NJ-13
  • Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-12
  • Rep. James WeaverD-OR-4
  • Rep. Gene MaguireD-NJ-7
  • Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
  • Rep. Bill AlexanderD-AR-1
  • Rep. John BurtonD-CA-5
  • Rep. George ShipleyD-IL-22
  • Rep. Leslie AspinD-WI-1
  • Rep. Morgan MurphyD-IL-2
  • Rep. Robert GiaimoD-CT-3
  • Rep. Lucien NedziD-MI-14
  • Rep. Robert DrinanD-MA-4
  • Rep. John JenretteD-SC-6
  • Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12
  • Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-4
  • Rep. Edward BeardD-RI-2
  • Rep. Thomas SteedD-OK-4
  • Rep. John DentD-PA-21
  • Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
  • Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
  • Rep. Toby MoffettD-CT-6
  • Rep. Charles VanikD-OH-22
  • Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
  • Rep. Bernice SiskD-CA-15
  • Rep. Christopher DoddD-CT-2
  • Rep. Gillis LongD-LA-8
  • Rep. Lindy BoggsD-LA-2
  • Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
  • Rep. John YoungD-TX-14
  • Rep. Leo RyanD-CA-11
  • Rep. Ray ThorntonD-AR-4
  • Rep. James TuckerD-AR-2
  • Rep. William CotterD-CT-1
  • Rep. Edward PattisonD-NY-29
  • Rep. James BlanchardD-MI-18
  • Rep. Stanley LundineD-NY-39
  • Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
  • Rep. Lunsford PreyerD-NC-6
  • Rep. John SlackD-WV-3
  • Rep. Robert MollohanD-WV-1
  • Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-7
  • Rep. Mary OakarD-OH-20
  • Rep. Robert CornellD-WI-8
  • Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
  • Rep. Matthew McHughD-NY-27
  • Rep. Robert EdgarD-PA-7
  • Rep. Donald PeaseD-OH-13
  • Rep. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
  • Rep. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
  • Rep. Henry NowakD-NY-37
  • Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
  • Rep. Robert YoungD-MO-2
  • Rep. Herbert HarrisD-VA-8
  • Rep. Gladys SpellmanD-MD-5
  • Rep. Mario BiaggiD-NY-10
  • Rep. James FlorioD-NJ-1
  • Rep. Mark HannafordD-CA-34
  • Rep. James HanleyD-NY-32
  • Rep. Joseph FisherD-VA-10
  • Rep. Koln McKayD-UT-1
  • Rep. John KrebsD-CA-17
  • Rep. Michael BlouinD-IA-2
  • Rep. Albert GoreD-TN-4
  • Rep. Bob CarrD-MI-6
  • Rep. Adam BenjaminD-IN-1
  • Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
  • Rep. Glenn AndersonD-CA-32
  • Rep. Kenneth HollandD-SC-5
  • Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
  • Rep. David CornwellD-IN-8
  • Rep. Joseph MinishD-NJ-11
  • Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
  • Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
  • Rep. Ed JonesD-TN-7
  • Rep. Douglas ApplegateD-OH-18
  • Rep. Berkley BedellD-IA-6
  • Rep. James LloydD-CA-35
  • Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-36
  • Rep. Max BaucusD-MT-1
  • Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
  • Rep. Austin MurphyD-PA-22
  • Rep. Bo GinnD-GA-1
  • Rep. George MahonD-TX-19
  • Rep. John BreckinridgeD-KY-6
  • Rep. Walter JonesD-NC-1
  • Rep. Ronnie FlippoD-AL-5
  • Rep. Tom HarkinD-IA-5
  • Rep. Douglas WalgrenD-PA-18
  • Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
  • Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
  • Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
  • Rep. Mendel DavisD-SC-1
  • Rep. Wyche FowlerD-GA-5
  • Rep. Martha KeysD-KS-2
  • Rep. Joseph EarlyD-MA-3
  • Rep. Ed JenkinsD-GA-9
  • Rep. Jerome AmbroD-NY-3
  • Rep. Leon PanettaD-CA-16
  • Rep. Jack HightowerD-TX-13
  • Rep. James MattoxD-TX-5
  • Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
  • Rep. Abraham KazenD-TX-23
  • Rep. Peter KostmayerD-PA-8
  • Rep. Les AuCoinD-OR-1
  • Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-10
  • Rep. Paul RogersD-FL-11
  • Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
  • Rep. Harold VolkmerD-MO-9
  • Rep. Ike AndrewsD-NC-4
  • Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
  • Rep. Robert SikesD-FL-1
  • Rep. Vonno GudgerD-NC-11
  • Rep. James MannD-SC-4
  • Rep. Allen ErtelD-PA-17
  • Rep. Charles WhitleyD-NC-3
  • Rep. Otis PikeD-NY-1
  • Rep. Richard WhiteD-TX-16
  • Rep. Martin RussoD-IL-3
  • Rep. James SantiniD-NV
  • Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
  • Rep. David BowenD-MS-2
  • Rep. Thomas LukenD-OH-2
  • Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
  • Rep. Stephen NealD-NC-5
  • Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
  • Rep. Elliott LevitasD-GA-4
  • Rep. William ChappellD-FL-4
  • Rep. William NicholsD-AL-3
  • Rep. Daniel GlickmanD-KS-4
  • Rep. Wes WatkinsD-OK-3
  • Rep. Lawrence FountainD-NC-2
  • Rep. Dale MilfordD-TX-24
  • Rep. Sam HallD-TX-1
  • Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
  • Rep. Andrew JacobsD-IN-11
  • Rep. Ronald MottlD-OH-23

Republicans who voted yea(34)

  • Rep. Charles WhalenR-OH-3
  • Rep. Newton SteersR-MD-8
  • Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
  • Rep. Pete McCloskeyR-CA-12
  • Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
  • Rep. Frank HortonR-NY-34
  • Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-12
  • Rep. Margaret HecklerR-MA-10
  • Rep. Marc MarksR-PA-24
  • Rep. John BuchananR-AL-6
  • Rep. William WalshR-NY-33
  • Rep. Millicent FenwickR-NJ-5
  • Rep. Mark AndrewsR-ND
  • Rep. Jack EdwardsR-AL-1
  • Rep. Jim JeffordsR-VT
  • Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
  • Rep. Larry PresslerR-SD-1
  • Rep. Carl PursellR-MI-2
  • Rep. Ronald SarasinR-CT-5
  • Rep. Harold SawyerR-MI-5
  • Rep. Donald ClausenR-CA-2
  • Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-1
  • Rep. Ronald MarleneeR-MT-2
  • Rep. William MooreR-LA-6
  • Rep. James QuillenR-TN-1
  • Rep. Larry WinnR-KS-3
  • Rep. Edward DerwinskiR-IL-4
  • Rep. Keith SebeliusR-KS-1
  • Rep. Manuel LujánR-NM-1
  • Rep. James AbdnorR-SD-2
  • Rep. Bob WilsonR-CA-41
  • Rep. Skip BafalisR-FL-10
  • Rep. Robert LagomarsinoR-CA-19
  • Rep. Barry GoldwaterR-CA-20
Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1369 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.

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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.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 12 actions.

  1. Sep 30, 1978Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  2. PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-395.
  3. Sep 21, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
  4. Sep 20, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
  5. PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
  6. Sep 15, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate.
  7. FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
  8. Sep 12, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #754 (249-122).House roll call 754
  9. FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
  10. Aug 8, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
  11. May 25, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
  12. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
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.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.