An act to repeal and amend certain laws regulating trade between Indians and certain Federal employees.
Public Law 96-277 · H.R. 3979 · 96th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Jun 17, 1980 · Native Americans
Sponsor: Rep. Harold Runnels (D-NM-2)
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.
(House agreed to certain Senate amendment with an amendment)
Amends existing provisions of Federal law which prohibit the trading or contracting by Federal employees with Indians to prohibit only such trading or contracting, excluding actions on behalf of the United States, by officers, agents, or employees of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) or the Indian Health Service (IHS).
Authorizes the President to prescribe rules under which a BIA or IHS officer, agent, or employee may purchase from or sell to an Indian any service or any real or personal property. Prohibits the purchase or sale by any such officer, agent, or employee of real or personal property for the purpose of commercially selling, reselling, trading, or bartering such property.
Declares that such regulations shall not permit such an employee: (1) to have any interest in a transaction involving property or funds which are either held in trust by the United States for Indians or connected with a BIA or IHS grant or contract, unless the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, or such Secretary's designee, approves such transaction; or (2) to acquire any trust lands or property subject to restriction against alienation imposed by the United States, unless such acquisition is authorized by law. Provides that such designee may not be a relative of such employee, and must be employed at the Washington, D.C. central office at a higher grade level, than any such employee employed at a regional BIA or IHS office.
Permits the Secretary of the Interior to ratify any transaction, other than one involving the sale of trust or restricted property, occurring before the effective date of this Act if such transaction would be legal under this Act.
Declares that this Act shall take effect 60 days after its enactment.
Specifies and describes a tract of land in Washington to be held by the Secretary for the Wa-He-Lute Indian school for its use as an Indian school and community center. Provides that title to such land shall remain in the United States to be held by the Secretary so long as it is used for such purposes. Directs that when such land is no longer used for such purposes, title shall be taken in trust for the benefit of a named enrollee or his heirs.
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. 15 actions.
- Jun 17, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-277.
- Jun 16, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Jun 12, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment to certain Senate amendment.
- Jun 9, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to certain Senate amendment with an amendment.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to certain Senate amendments.
- Mar 19, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Mar 12, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Indian Affairs Committee
- Nov 28, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Indian Affairs Committee
- Nov 27, 1979FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
- Nov 16, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
- May 7, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
- 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.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.