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Texas Band of Kickapoo Act

Public Law 97-429 · H.R. 4496 · 97th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Jan 8, 1983 · Native Americans

Sponsor: Rep. Abraham Kazen (D-TX-23)

Cosponsors (1): Rep. Wes Watkins

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateVoice vote
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.

Texas Band of Kickapoo Act - Declares that it is appropriate to: (1) grant Federal recognition to the Texas Band of Kickapoo Indians (a subgroup of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma); (2) clarify the right of the members of the band to cross the United States-Mexico border; (3) authorize the provision of Federal services; and (4) provide for the establishment of trust lands for the members of the Band.

Directs the Secretary of the Interior, within one year after enactment of this Act and after consultation with the Tribe, to compile a roll of those members of the Tribe who possess Kickapoo blood and who are also members of the Band. Directs the Secretary, when the roll is complete, to: (1) immediately publish notice of its completion in the Federal Register; and (2) ensure that such roll is maintained and is current. Directs the Secretary to report to Congress if such roll is not compiled within the prescribed period.

Permits, for a five-year period after publication of the Federal Register notice, any member of the Band whose name appears on such roll to opt to apply for, and to be granted, U.S. citizenship by the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Entitles all members of the Band, notwithstanding the Immigration and Nationality Act, to freely pass and repass the borders of the United States and to live and work in the United States.

Makes the Indian Reorganization Act applicable to the Band, but limits the exercise of the Secretary's authority to acquire lands for the Band pursuant to specified land acquisition provisions of such Act to lands located in Maverick County, Texas.

Directs the Secretary to accept no more than one hundred acres of land in Maverick County, Texas, which shall be offered for the benefit of the Band with the approval of the Tribe. Declares that this requirement shall not be construed as limiting the Secretary's authority under specified land acquisition provisions of the Indian Reorganization Act.

Grants the State of Texas jurisdiction over civil causes of action and criminal offenses arising on the Band's trust lands, in accordance with specified Federal laws and with the option of returning such jurisdiction to the United States and the Band.

Makes the Band and its members in Maverick County, Texas, eligible for all Federal Indian programs and services, without regard to: (1) the existence of a reservation; (2) Band members' residence on or near a reservation; or (3) the compilation of the roll required under this Act.

Directs the Secretary and head of each department and agency administering programs for the benefit of Indians to consult and cooperate with appropriate Mexican officials so that provision of such services shall meet the special tricultural needs of the Band and its members. Allows such consultation and cooperation to include, whenever practicable, joint funding agreements.

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. 14 actions.

  1. Jan 8, 1983Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 97-429.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Jan 3, 1983PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Dec 21, 1982Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Senate Amendments by Voice Vote.
  5. FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
  6. Dec 15, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Indian Affairs Committee
  7. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Indian Affairs Committee
  8. Sep 29, 1982FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
  9. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Indian Affairs Committee
  10. Sep 23, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
  11. Sep 15, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
  12. Aug 5, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by House Natural Resources Committee
  13. Sep 16, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
  14. 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.