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HR 3690 111th Congress House

Indian Tribal Federal Recognition Administrative Procedures Act

Official title: To establish a Commission on Recognition of Indian Tribes to review and act on petitions by Indian groups applying for Federal recognition, and for other purposes.

Introduced: October 1, 2009 See on congress.gov
Native Americans Administrative remediesEvidence and witnessesExecutive agency funding and structureFederal-Indian relations
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Government information and archivesIndian social and development programs
This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) 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 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 1, 2009
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Oct 1, 2009
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E2425)
Oct 1, 2009
Introduced in House
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 Latest action October 1, 2009

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Indian Tribal Federal Recognition Administrative Procedures Act - Establishes the Commission on Recognition of Indian Tribes. Sets forth procedures for an Indian group to submit letters of intent and a petition to the Commission requesting federal recognition as an Indian tribe (effectively transferring the federal recognition process from the Bureau of Indian Affairs [BIA]to the Commission).

Specifies the requirements of a petition for recognition.

Requires the Commission upon receiving a petition to: (1) send acknowledgment of receipt in writing to the petitioner; and (2) conduct a review to determine whether the petitioner is entitled to be recognized as an Indian tribe.

Authorizes the petitioner or any interested party to file a request for reconsideration with the Commission of a final determination with respect to a petition submitted under this Act. Requires the Commission to review all requests for reconsideration, as specified in this Act. Grants the Commission the authority to review determinations of a Commission panel.

Makes an Indian tribe upon recognition by the Commission: (1) eligible for services and benefits from the federal government that are available to other federally recognized Indian tribes by virtue of their status as Indian tribes with a government-to-government relationship with the United States; (2) have responsibilities, obligations, privileges, and immunities of those Indian tribes; and (3) included on the list of federally recognized tribes under the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994.

Allows the recognition or restoration of Indian tribes by: (1) federal law; (2) the Commission; (3) reorganization under the Indian Reorganization Act or the Alaska Indian Reorganization Act; and (4) any final decision of a U.S. court.

Applies the Indian Reorganization Act to all tribes recognized by the Commission, regardless as to whether they were under federal jurisdiction on June 18, 1934.

Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to Indian groups seeking federal recognition as Indian tribes to enable them to conduct research to substantiate, and prepare documentation necessary for submission of, documented petitions under this Act.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3690: Indian Tribal Federal Recognition Administrative Procedures Act. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-3690/
MLA
"H.R. 3690: Indian Tribal Federal Recognition Administrative Procedures Act." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-3690/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3690, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-3690/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3690: Indian Tribal Federal Recognition Administrative Procedures Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-3690/)
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