An Act to authorize appropriations for the Indian Claims Commission for fiscal year 1977, and for other purposes.
PL 94-465 (S.2981), enacted 10/08/1976

90 STAT. 1990 
PUBLIC LAW 94-465—OCT. 8, 1976 
Public Law 94-465 
94th Congress 
Oct. 8, 1976 
[S. 2981] 
Indian Claims 
Commission. 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
Termination 
date, extension. 
Report to 
congressional 
committees. 
An Act 
To authorize appropriations for the Indian Claims Commission for fiscal year 
1977, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That there is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out the provisions of the Indian 
Claims Commission Act (25 U.S.C. 70), during fiscal year 1977, not to 
exceed $1,650,000. 
SEC. 2. Section 23 of the Act entitled "An Act to create an Indian 
Claims Commission, to provide for the powers, duties, and functions 
thereof, and for other purposes", approved August 13, 1946 (60 Stat. 
1049, 1055), as amended (86 Stat. 115; 25 U.S.C. 70v), is hereby 
amended by striking said section and inserting in lieu thereof the 
following: 
"DISSOLUTION or THE COMMISSION AND DISPOSITION OF PENDING CLAIMS 
"SEC. 23. The existence of the Commission shall terminate at the 
end of fiscal year 1978 on September 30,1978, or at such earlier time as 
the Commission shall have made its final report to the Congress on all 
claims filed with it. Upon its dissolution, the records and files of the 
Commission in all cases in which a final determination has been entered 
shall be delivered to the Archivist of the United States. No later than 
December 31, 1976, the Indian Claims Commission may certify and 
transfer to the Court of Claims all cases which the Commission deter-
mines it cannot completely adjudicate by September 30,1978. In addi-
tion, the Commission may, at any time prior to September 30, 1978, 
certify and transfer to the Court of Claims any case which it deter-
mines cannot be completely adjudicated prior to the dissolution of the 
Commission. Jurisdiction is hereby conferred upon the Court of 
Claims to adjudicate all such cases under the provisions of section 2 
of the Indian Claims Commission Act: Provided, That section 2 of 
said Act shall not apply to any cases filed originally in the Court of 
Claims under section 1505 of title 28, United States Code. Upon dis-
solution of the Commission, all pending cases including those on 
appeal shall be transferred to the Court of Claims for adjudication 
on the same basis as those authorized to be transferred by this section.". 
SEC. 3. Section 28 of such Act of August 13, 1946, as amended (25 
U.S.C. 70v-2), is amended by striking said section and inserting in lieu 
thereof the following: 
PUBLIC LAW 94-465—OCT. 8, 1976 
90 STAT. 1991 
« 
STATUS REPORT TO CONGRESS 
"SEC. 28. The Commission shall, on the first day of the 95th Con-
gress, submit a report to the Committees on Interior and Insular 
Aflfairs of the Senate and House of Representatives on those cases 
which it has transferred pursuant to section 23 of this Act, as amended. 25 USC 70v. 
In addition, the Commission shall submit a report to said Committees 
at six month intervals thereafter showing the progress made and the 
work remaining to be completed by the Commission, as well as the 
status of each remaining case, along with the projected date for its 
completion.". 
Approved October 8, 1976. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 94-1150 accompanying H.R. 11909 (Comm. on Interior and Insular 
Affairs). 
SENATE REPORT No. 94-737 (Comm. on Interior and Insular Affairs). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 122 (1976): 
Apr. 9, considered and passed Senate. 
Aug. 3, considered and passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R. 11909. 
Sept. 28, Senate agreed to conference report. 
Sept. 29, House agreed to conference report.