A bill to ratify a settlement agreement in a land dispute between the Pamunkey Indian Tribe and the Southern Railway Company, and for other purposes.
Public Law 96-484 · H.R. 7212 · 96th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Nov 24, 1980 · Native Americans
Sponsor: Rep. Paul Trible (R-VA-1)
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.
Approves and ratifies the settlement agreement between the Pamunkey Indian Tribe of King William County, Virginia, and the Southern Railway Company, pertaining to a dispute concerning the use of certain lands in the County by the Railroad. States that the Congress approves and ratifies all land transfers provided for in such agreement, and deems such transfers to have been made under applicable existing law.
Directs that all prior Indian claims against the United States or the Railroad with respect to the subject matter of the agreement be waived and surrendered when such agreement becomes effective.
Provides for the acceptance by the United States of the waiver executed by the Tribe on May 31, 1980, of all claims against the United States, its officers or agents, any State or subdivision thereof, or any other person or entity, with respect to lands in the Settlement Agreement.
Provides that the gross income of the Tribe shall not include any amounts received under the settlement agreement. Stipulates that nothing in this Act prevents the inclusion in the gross income of any individual of any amounts which are distributed under such agreement.
Authorizes the Tribe to grant easements, rights-of-way, or leases for any land occupied by such Tribe. Directs that any other transfer be subject to applicable Federal restrictions.
Declares that nothing in this Act: (1) constitutes recognition of the Pamunkey Indians as a tribe subject to the plenary control of Congress; (2) affects their right to petition the Secretary of the Interior on certain other matters; or (3) imposes any trust responsibility on the United States with respect to the Tribe.
Provides that the provisions of this Act shall govern to the extent that they may conflict with other Federal laws.
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. 12 actions.
- Nov 24, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-484.
- Nov 14, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Nov 13, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Nov 12, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate.
- Sep 26, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Indian Affairs Committee
- Aug 20, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Indian Affairs Committee
- Aug 18, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
- Jul 1, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
- Apr 29, 1980CommitteeCommittee · 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.