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H.R.4733 / 107th Congress

Indian Child Welfare Act Amendments of 2002

Executive Comment Requested from Interior.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · May 14, 2002

Indian Child Welfare Act Amendments of 2002 - Amends the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 concerning: (1) jurisdiction over child custody and child adoption proceedings, including transfers and special rules for Indian tribes in Alaska; (2) transfer of jurisdiction to tribal court, excluding cases where there is no subject matter jurisdiction or a transfer would cause undue hardship; (3) intervention in state court proceedings, including the intervention rights of the extended family; (4) full faith and credit, including tribal court judgments; (5) pending court proceedings, including notice requirements and a prohibition against prebirth involuntary custody proceedings; (6) voluntary termination of parental rights, including an explanation of placement options and treating certain Indian custodians as parents; (7) withdrawal of consent before a final decree, as specified; (8) notice to Indian tribes of the voluntary termination of parental rights or voluntary placement of a child; (9) content of notice based on a good faith investigation; (10) intervention by an Indian tribe upon filing a notice of intent or a written objection; (11) written notice to parents of a terminated or changed adoptive placement or a commenced proceeding to adopt; (12) invalidation of child custody proceedings, including the right to petition of a member of the child's extended family previously rejected as a placement; (13) notice to extended family members; (14) expanded release of information concerning the tribal affiliation of biological parents; (15) resumption of jurisdiction over child custody proceedings by Indian tribes, as specified; (16) agreements between States and Indian tribes as they affect jurisdiction; (17) criminal sanctions for fraudulent representation during Indian child adoption proceedings; (18) visitation as an enforceable right; (18) promulgating regulations governing compliance reviews; and (19) the application of these requirements to children of State-recognized tribes.

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Who introduced it

Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large] · R–AK

Committees

  • Natural Resources Committee
1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Executive Comment Requested from Interior.

  2. Referred to the House Committee on Resources.

  3. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E790)

  4. Introduced in House

  5. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

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

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 19, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze H.R.4733 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.

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Institutions and government scope

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Individual rights and government power

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