National Museum of the American Indian Act

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

11 May 1989

Last action

28 November 1989 · President

Status

Became Public Law No: 101-185.

Summary

National American Indian Museum Act - Establishes within the Smithsonian Institution a memorial to Native Americans to be known as the National Museum of the American Indian to provide for the study, research, collection, and exhibition of Native Americans and their culture. Designates specified areas in the District of Columbia and New York City as the sites of facilities for the Museum. Requires establishment of a facility for the conservation and storage of Museum collections at the Museum Support Center in Suitland, Maryland. Authorizes the Smithsonian to: (1) provide for the transfer of certain assets of the Heye Foundation for the benefit and use of the Museum; (2) construct such facilities; (3) provide for acquisition of Native American objects and artifacts from museums or private collections; and (4) maintain or loan objects and artifacts in the Museum collection. Establishes the Board of Trustees of the Museum. Directs the Board to: (1) recommend annual budgets for the Museum; and (2) assist the Board of Regents on matters relating to the Museum. Grants the Trustees sole authority to: (1) dispose of and acquire additional Museum property; and (2) establish policy with respect to the utilization of the Museum collections. Grants the Trustees authority to: (1) establish policy with respect to restoration, preservation, and maintenance of Museum collections; (2) solicit funds for the Museum; (3) approve expenditures from the Museum's endowment; (4) advise the Museum's Director; (5) provide for the exhibition of Native American objects and artifacts; and (6) conduct research and evaluation and educational programs with respect to the Museum collections. Requires the Trustees to submit annual reports to the Board of Regents and the Congress. Requires the Foundation's employees serving at the time of the transfer to be offered employment by the Smithsonian. Authorizes the Board of Regents to: (1) designate affiliate museums of the Museum in certain U.S. regions and in Alaska and Hawaii; and (2) establish an advisory council within each such region or State to oversee Museum curation and acquisitions and to provide necessary technical assistance for such affiliate museums. Directs the Board of Regents to: (1) identify the geographic and tribal origins of the skeletal remains of Indians and Alaska Natives in the Smithsonian; (2) conduct a study and make recommendations as to the final disposition of such remains; (3) consult with Native American traditional religious leaders in making such recommendations; and (4) report to the Congress within three years after this Act's enactment on the identity of such skeletal remains and the findings and recommendation of such study. Pledges that the United States will provide the funds needed to maintain and operate the Museum. Authorizes appropriations.

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Timeline

11 May 1989
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules.
Source: IntroReferral
11 May 1989
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
12 May 1989
Introduced
Referred jointly to the Committees on Rules; Indian Affairs by unanimous consent.
Source: IntroReferral
12 May 1989
Discharge
Senate Committee on Rules discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Source: Discharge
12 May 1989
Committee
Senate Committee on Rules discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Source: Committee
12 May 1989
Committee
Committees on Rules; Indian Affairs. Joint hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 101-203.
Source: Committee
16 May 1989
Reported
Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
Source: Committee
17 May 1989
Reported
Committee on Rules. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Source: Committee
27 September 1989
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 264.
Source: Calendars
27 September 1989
Reported
Committees on Indian Affairs; Rules. Jointly reported to Senate by Senator Inouye with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 101-143.
Source: Committee
27 September 1989
Reported
Committees on Indian Affairs; Rules. Jointly reported to Senate by Senator Inouye with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 101-143.
Source: Committee
3 October 1989
Floor
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
Source: Floor
3 October 1989
Passed
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
Source: Floor
5 October 1989
Floor
Held at the desk.
Source: Floor
5 October 1989
Floor
Received in the House.
Source: Floor
5 October 1989
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
13 November 1989
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
13 November 1989
Passed
The title of the measure was amended to that of similar measure H.R. 2668. Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
13 November 1989
Floor
A similar measure H.R. 2668 was laid on the table without objection.
Source: Floor
13 November 1989
Passed
On passage Passed without objection.
Source: Floor
13 November 1989
Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.
Source: Floor
13 November 1989
Passed
The House struck all after the enacting clause and inserted in lieu thereof the provisions of a similar measure H.R. 2668. Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
13 November 1989
Floor
Considered by unanimous consent.
Source: Floor
13 November 1989
Floor
Mr. Clay asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table and consider.
Source: Floor
14 November 1989
Passed
Senate agreed to the House amendments by Voice Vote.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
14 November 1989
Passed
Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendments by Voice Vote.
Source: NotUsed
14 November 1989
Floor
Message on House action received in Senate and held at desk: House amendments to Senate bill.
Source: Floor
15 November 1989
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
16 November 1989
Floor
Measure Signed in Senate.
Source: Floor
17 November 1989
Floor
Presented to President.
Source: Floor
17 November 1989
President
Presented to President.
Source: President
28 November 1989
Became law
Became Public Law No: 101-185.
Source: President
28 November 1989
Became law
Signed by President.
Source: BecameLaw
28 November 1989
President
Signed by President.
Source: President

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Engrossed Amendment House · — · Download file
Enrolled Bill · — · Download file
Engrossed in Senate · — · Download file
Referral Instructions Senate · — · Download file
Reported to Senate · — · Download file

Documents

9 official files

Reported to Senate (text)

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Reported to Senate (text)
Reported to Senate · EN
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Referral Instructions Senate (text)
Referral Instructions Senate · EN
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Engrossed in Senate (text)
Engrossed in Senate · EN
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Enrolled Bill (text)
Enrolled Bill · EN
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Engrossed Amendment House (text)
Engrossed Amendment House · EN
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Public Law (PDF)
Public Law · EN · 29 November 1989
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Passed House amended
summary · EN · 13 November 1989
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Reported to Senate with amendment(s)
summary · EN · 27 September 1989
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Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 11 May 1989
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Related records

related to → National Museum of the American Indian Act
amends ← To provide a substitute.

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Direct relationships

Legal framework · National Museum of the American Indian Act · S. 978 (101st) · US

Identifier matchPROJECTS_FROM
Same us record 101-s-978 projected from PoliticalRepo US row.
National Museum of the American Indian Act

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.

Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/101st-congress/senate-bill/978
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/101/s/978
us · 101-s-978 · source updated 20 June 2025