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S. 343Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)Passed Senate

RESPECT Act

Sponsored by Mike RoundsSen. Mike Rounds (R-SD)
Introduced February 8, 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 12:46 PM UTC

The RESPECT Act aims to clean up the U.S. legal code by removing a number of outdated statutes that pertain to Native American tribes. By repealing these old provisions, the bill eliminates rules that are no longer relevant or enforceable, simplifying the body of law that governs tribal affairs.

Key Provisions

  • Repeals several historic sections of the Revised Statutes and older Acts, including 25 U.S.C. 72, 25 U.S.C. 127, 25 U.S.C. 128, 25 U.S.C. 130, 25 U.S.C. 137, 25 U.S.C. 138, and others dating back to the 1870s and early 1900s.
  • Amends a 1875 law that once allowed the Secretary of the Interior to withhold payments from tribes holding non‑Indian captives, striking that language out.
  • Deletes unused paragraphs from various 19th‑ and early‑20th‑century statutes related to miscellaneous supports and school funding for tribes.
  • Removes an obsolete paragraph from a 1913 act and a 1906 act concerning general provisions of the Indian Commissioner.

Legislative Activity

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9 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs.

Indian and Insular Affairs Subcommittee

December 4, 2017

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

February 8, 2017

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

Indian Affairs Committee

February 8, 2017

SenateCommittee

Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

Indian Affairs Committee

March 29, 2017

SenateCommittee

Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Hoeven without amendment. With written report No. 115-85.

Indian Affairs Committee

May 24, 2017

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 105.

May 24, 2017

SenateFloor

Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7497; text: CR S7497)

November 29, 2017

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

November 30, 2017 • 2:55 PM

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

November 30, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

November 30, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs.

Indian and Insular Affairs Subcommittee

December 4, 2017

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 343 on the floor

1 Republican
Mitch McConnell
Sen. Mitch McConnellR-KY · Nov 29, 2017

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 105, S. 343. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a…

Record

Bill Text

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Referred in HouseIssued November 30, 2017

IC

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 343

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 30, 2017

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

AN ACT

To repeal certain obsolete laws relating to Indians.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Repealing Existing Substandard Provisions Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes Act or the RESPECT Act.

2.

Repeal of certain obsolete laws relating to Indians

(1)

Section 2080 of the Revised Statutes (25 U.S.C. 72) is repealed.

(2)

Section 2100 of the Revised Statutes (25 U.S.C. 127) is repealed.

(3)

Section 2 of the Act of March 3, 1875 (18 Stat. 449, chapter 132; 25 U.S.C. 128), is repealed.

(4)

The first section of the Act of March 3, 1875 (18 Stat. 424, chapter 132; 25 U.S.C. 129), is amended under the heading Cheyennes and Arapahoes. by striking ; that the Secretary of the Interior be authorized to withhold, from any tribe of Indians who may hold any captives other than Indians, any moneys due them from the United States until said captives shall be surrendered to the lawful authorities of the United States.

(5)

Section 2087 of the Revised Statutes (25 U.S.C. 130) is repealed.

(6)

Section 3 of the Act of March 3, 1875 (18 Stat. 449, chapter 132; 25 U.S.C. 137), is repealed.

(7)

Section 2101 of the Revised Statutes (25 U.S.C. 138) is repealed.

(8)

Section 7 of the Act of June 23, 1879 (21 Stat. 35, chapter 35; 25 U.S.C. 273), is repealed.

(9)

The first section of the Act of March 3, 1893 (27 Stat. 612, chapter 209), is amended—

(A)

under the heading Miscellaneous Supports. (27 Stat. 628; 25 U.S.C. 283), by striking the last 2 undesignated paragraphs; and

(B)

under the heading For Support of Schools. (27 Stat. 635; 25 U.S.C. 283), by striking the second undesignated paragraph.

(10)

Section 18 of the Act of June 30, 1913 (38 Stat. 96, chapter 4; 25 U.S.C. 285), is amended by striking the tenth undesignated paragraph.

(11)

The Act of June 21, 1906 (34 Stat. 325, chapter 3504), is amended under the heading Commissioner. under the heading I.

General Provisions. (34 Stat. 328; 25 U.S.C. 302) by striking the fourth undesignated paragraph.

Passed the Senate November 29, 2017.

Julie E. Adams,

Secretary