PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Became Public Law No: 114-244.
Congressional Research Service
Version 49 · Public Law · Oct 14, 2016
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on September 6, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act
(Sec. 3) This bill establishes the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children in the Office of Tribal Justice of the Department of Justice.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
The commission must conduct a comprehensive study of federal, state, local, and tribal programs that serve Native children, including an evaluation of:
the impact of concurrent jurisdiction on child welfare systems;
barriers Indian tribes and Native Hawaiians face in using public and private grant resources;
obstacles to nongovernmental financial support for programs benefitting Native children;
issues relating to the validity and statistical significance of data on Native children;
barriers to the development of sustainable, multidisciplinary programs designed to assist high-risk Native children and their families;
cultural or socioeconomic challenges in communities of Native children;
examples of successful program models and use of best practices in programs that serve children and families;
barriers to interagency coordination; and
the use of memoranda of agreement or interagency agreements to facilitate or improve agency coordination.
The commission must use the results of the study and analyses of existing federal data to: (1) develop plans for federal policy relating to Native children informed by the development of accurate child well-being measures; (2) recommend modifications and improvements to programs for Native children that integrate the cultural strengths of Native communities; (3) recommend improvements to the collection of data regarding Native children and the programs that serve them; and (4) identify models of successful programs.
When developing plans for federal policy, the commission may not consider or recommend recognition or establishment of a government-to-government relationship with an entity not recognized on or before the date of enactment of this bill.
The commission must report its findings, conclusions, and recommendations for legislative and administrative action. The commission is terminated 90 days after the report is submitted.
People & committees
Sen. Heitkamp, Heidi [D-ND] · D–ND
Legislative record
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Became Public Law No: 114-244.
Became Public Law No: 114-244.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Senate agreed to the House amendment to the Senate bill by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6286)
Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment to the Senate bill by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6286)
Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5287-5289)
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5287-5289)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 246.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5287-5289)
Mrs. Radewagen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 560.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 114-722.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 114-722.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs Discharged.
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs.
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Received in the House.
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S3381-3385; text as passed Senate: CR S3381-3383)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S3381-3385; text as passed Senate: CR S3381-3383)
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 79.
Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Barrasso with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-39.
Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Barrasso with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-39.
Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S422-423)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Jan 20, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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