A joint resolution to acknowledge a long history of official depredations and ill-conceived policies by the United States Government regarding Indian tribes and offer an apology to all Native Peoples on behalf of the United States.

Bill: 109-sjres-15
Sponsor: Sen. Brownback, Sam [R-KS]
Introduced: 2005-04-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Commemorations
Congress
Congressional tributes
Crime and Law Enforcement
Environmental Protection
Federal-Indian relations
Government Operations and Politics
Indian lands
Minorities
Nature conservation
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Racial discrimination
State government-Indian relations
Violence

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-19
text: 
Recognizes the special legal and political relationship the Indian tribes have with the United States and the solemn covenant with the land we share.
 
Commends and honors the Native Peoples for the thousands of years that they have stewarded and protected this land.
 
Recognizes that there have been years of official depredations, ill-conceived policies, and the breaking of covenants by the Federal Government regarding Indian tribes.
 
Apologizes on behalf of the people of the United States to all Native Peoples for the many instances of violence, maltreatment, and neglect inflicted on them by U.S. citizens.
 
Expresses the regret of the United States for the ramifications of former wrongs and its commitment to build on the positive relationships of the past and present to move toward reconciliation.
 
Urges the President to acknowledge the wrongs of the United States against Indian tribes in U.S. history.
 
Commends the State governments that have begun reconciliation efforts with recognized Indian tribes located in their boundaries, and encourages all State governments to do the same.
 
Declares that nothing in this Joint Resolution authorizes any claim against the United States or serves as a settlement of any claim against it.

action_date: 2005-07-28
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Recognizes the special legal and political relationship the Indian tribes have with the United States and the solemn covenant with the land we share.
 
Commends and honors the Native Peoples for the thousands of years that they have stewarded and protected this land.
 
Recognizes that there have been years of official depredations, ill-conceived policies, and the breaking of covenants by the Federal Government regarding Indian tribes.
 
Apologizes on behalf of the people of the United States to all Native Peoples for the many instances of violence, maltreatment, and neglect inflicted on them by U.S. citizens.
 
Expresses the regret of the United States for the ramifications of former wrongs and its commitment to build on the positive relationships of the past and present to move toward reconciliation.
 
Urges the President to acknowledge the wrongs of the United States against Indian tribes in U.S. history.
 
Commends the State governments that have begun reconciliation efforts with recognized Indian tribes located in their boundaries, and encourages all State governments to do the same.
 
Declares that nothing in this Joint Resolution authorizes any claim against the United States or serves as a settlement of any claim against it.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-08-31
text: Star Print ordered on the joint resolution.
action_date: 2005-07-28
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 183.
action_date: 2005-07-28
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator McCain without amendment and with a preamble. With written report No. 109-113.
action_date: 2005-07-28
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator McCain without amendment and with a preamble. With written report No. 109-113.
action_date: 2005-06-29
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2005-05-25
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 109-97.
action_date: 2005-04-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4011-4012)
action_date: 2005-04-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2005-04-19
text: Introduced in Senate