To amend the Indian Child Welfare Act to exempt from coverage of the act child custody proceedings involving a child whose parents do not maintain significant social, cultural, or political affiliation with the tribe of which the parents are members, and for other purposes.

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H4435)

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Apr 18, 1996

Amends the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 to exempt from the Act any child custody proceeding involving a child who does not reside or is not domiciled within a reservation unless at least one of the child's biological parents: (1) is of Indian descent; and (2) maintains significant social, cultural, or political affiliation with their Indian tribe. Permits an individual who is 18 years old before becoming a member of an Indian tribe to become a member only upon such individual's written consent. Provides that for the purposes of any child custody proceeding involving an Indian child, membership in an Indian tribe shall be effective from the actual date of admission to membership in the tribe and shall not be given retroactive effect.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Pryce, Deborah [R-OH-15] · R–OH

Committees

Natural Resources Committee

18 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

May 7, 1996
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H4435)
Apr 25, 1996
For Further Action See H.R.3286.
Apr 18, 1996
Referred to the House Committee on Resources.
Apr 18, 1996
Introduced in House
Apr 18, 1996
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Apr 18, 1996 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 3286 · Adoption Promotion and Stability Act of 1996

Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.3275 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.3275, 104th Congress: To amend the Indian Child Welfare Act to exempt from coverage of the act child custody proceedings involving a child whose parents do not maintain significant social, cultural, or political affiliation with the tribe of which the parents are members, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-bill/3275

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1996-04-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/hr3275/BILLS-104hr3275ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:29:54Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.3275 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.3275 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.3275, 104th Congress: To amend the Indian Child Welfare Act to exempt from coverage of the act child custody proceedings involving a child whose parents do not maintain significant social, cultural, or political affiliation with the tribe of which the parents are members, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-bill/3275

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1996-04-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/hr3275/BILLS-104hr3275ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:29:54Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.3275 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.3275 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.3275, 104th Congress: To amend the Indian Child Welfare Act to exempt from coverage of the act child custody proceedings involving a child whose parents do not maintain significant social, cultural, or political affiliation with the tribe of which the parents are members, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-bill/3275

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1996-04-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/hr3275/BILLS-104hr3275ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:29:54Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.3275 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.3275 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.3275, 104th Congress: To amend the Indian Child Welfare Act to exempt from coverage of the act child custody proceedings involving a child whose parents do not maintain significant social, cultural, or political affiliation with the tribe of which the parents are members, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-bill/3275

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1996-04-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/hr3275/BILLS-104hr3275ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:29:54Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.3275 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.