Skip to main content
SJRES 15 109th Congress Senate Native Americans 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

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…

Show full title

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.

Introduced: April 19, 2005 See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 109th Congress ended
It never became law before the 109th Congress (2005–2006) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 8 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 31, 2005
Star Print ordered on the joint resolution.
Jul 28, 2005
Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator McCain without amendment and with a preamble. With written report No. 109-113.
Jul 28, 2005
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 183.
Jun 29, 2005
Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
May 25, 2005
Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 109-97.
Apr 20, 2005
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4011-4012)
Apr 19, 2005
Introduced in Senate
Apr 19, 2005
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(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.

What's happening now August 31, 2005

Star Print ordered on the joint resolution.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HJRES 3 Related bill To acknowledge a long history of official depredations and ill-conceived policies by the United States Government regar…
 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 1 Republican 2
R
Thune, John
South Dakota · Jul 29, 2005
 D
Cantwell, Maria
Washington · Jul 11, 2005
 R
Crapo, Mike
Idaho · Jun 21, 2005
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S.J. Res. 15: 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.. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-SJRES-15/
MLA
"S.J. Res. 15: 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.." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-SJRES-15/.
Bluebook (legal)
S.J. Res. 15, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-SJRES-15/.
Markdown link
[S.J. Res. 15: 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.](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-SJRES-15/)
Report a problem