An act to provide for the use and distribution of funds awarded the Assiniboine Tribe of the Fort Belknap Indian Community, Montana, and the Assiniboine Tribe of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana, in docket numbered 10-81L by the United States Court of Claims, and for other purposes.
Public Law 98-124 · S. 1148 · 98th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Oct 13, 1983 · Native Americans
Sponsor: Sen. John Melcher (D-MT)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votes
- HouseUnanimous consent
- 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.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Divides certain judgment funds according to specified percentages among: (1) the Assiniboine Tribe of the Fort Belknap Indian Community, Montana; and (2) the Assiniboine Tribe of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana.
Establishes a fund distribution formula based upon the membership roll of such Tribes. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to make per capita distributions to the respective Tribes according to specified eligibility standards. States that the Secretary's determination concerning eligibility for per capita distributions is final.
Directs the Secretary to hold in trust and to invest specified percentages of the remainder for the benefit of such Tribes.
Requires that the principal and income of funds apportioned to the Assiniboine Tribe of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation be applied and used for the benefit of such Tribe according to terms established by the Fort Peck Assiniboine Council, with the concurrence of the Tribal Executive Board of the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Reservation, and approved by the Secretary. Provides for the Secretary's interim administration of that portion of the funds for which no agreement has been reached.
Exempts the judgment funds from: (1) State or Federal income taxes; and (2) any determination of eligibility for assistance under the auspices of a Federal program.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Indian Affairs Committee · Senate · hearings by (full committee), markup by, referred to, reported by
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.
- Oct 13, 1983Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 98-124.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Oct 4, 1983PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 3, 1983FloorFloor · Passed House by Unanimous Consent.
- Sep 28, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
- Sep 21, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
- Aug 4, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
- Aug 3, 1983FloorFloor · Passed Senate with amendments and an amendment to the Title by Voice Vote.
- Jul 29, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Indian Affairs Committee
- Jul 28, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Indian Affairs Committee
- Jul 13, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Senate Indian Affairs Committee
- Apr 26, 1983CommitteeCommittee · 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.