PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.

Mississippi Sioux Tribes Judgment Fund Distribution Act of 1998

Became Public Law No: 105-387.

Official summary

Version 36 · Passed House amended · Oct 10, 1998

Mississippi Sioux Tribes Judgment Fund Distribution Act of 1998 - Provides for the distribution of certain funds to the Sisseton and Wahpeton Tribes of Sioux Indians to pay a judgment in favor of those tribes. (Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to transfer a specified aggregate amount to be credited to accounts established in a Fund Account for the benefit of the applicable governing bodies of the : (1) Spirit Lake Tribe of North Dakota; (2) Sisseton and Wahpeton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota; and (3) Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation in Montana. Designates the Sisseton and Wahpeton Sioux Council of the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes as the tribal governing body of the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation for purposes of making such distributions. (Sec. 5) Prohibits funds allocated for a covered Indian tribe from being used to make per capita payments to tribe members. Allows funds allocated to be used, administered, and managed by a tribal governing body only for the purpose of making investments or expenditures that the tribal governing body determines to be reasonably related to: (1) economic development; (2) tribal resources development; (3) the development of beneficial tribal programs, including educational and social welfare programs; (4) any existing obligation or debt arising out of any such activities; and (5) specified attorneys' fees. (Sec. 6) Sets forth provisions concerning the effect of payments to a covered Indian tribe or an individual on eligibility for, or the reduction or denial of, Federal benefits. (Sec. 7) Directs the Secretary to distribute a specified amount to the lineal descendants of the Sisseton and Wahpeton Tribes of Sioux Indians. Requires ancestral verification of such descendants. (Sec. 8) Sets forth procedural requirements for civil actions brought by or on behalf of a lineal descendant or any group or combination thereof to challenge the constitutionality or validity of such distributions.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Sen. Dorgan, Byron L. [D-ND] · D–ND

Committees

  • Indian Affairs Committee
5 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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

  1. Became Public Law No: 105-387.

  2. Became Public Law No: 105-387.

  3. Signed by President.

  4. Signed by President.

  5. Presented to President.

  6. Presented to President.

  7. Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  8. Senate agreed to the House amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S12465-12466)

  9. Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S12465-12466)

  10. Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.

  11. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  12. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

  13. Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

  14. DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.

  15. Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H10477-10479)

  16. Mr. Saxton moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  17. Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  18. Held at the desk.

  19. Received in the House.

  20. Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

  21. Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

  22. The committee substitute agreed to by Unanimous Consent.

  23. Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S12266-12268)

  24. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 708.

  25. Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported to Senate by Senator Campbell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 105-379.

  26. Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported to Senate by Senator Campbell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 105-379.

  27. Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

  28. Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 105-812.

  29. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

  30. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1925)

  31. Introduced in Senate

Bill text & related measures

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

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Jun 20, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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 S.391 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
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.391 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
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.391 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
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.391 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