25 U.S.C. § 1 Commissioner of Indian Affairs
There shall be in the Department of the Interior a Commissioner of Indian Affairs, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
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in effect25 U.S.C. § 1a Delegation of powers and duties by Secretary of the Interior and Commissioner of Indian Affairs
For the purpose of facilitating and simplifying the administration of the laws governing Indian affairs, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to delegate, from time to time, and to the extent and under such regulations as he deems proper, his powers and duties under said laws to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, insofar as such powers and duties relate to action in individual cases arising under general regulations promulgated by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to law. Subject to the supervision and direction of the Secretary, the Commissioner is authorized to delegate, in like manner, any powers and duties so delegated to him by the Secretary, or vested in him by law, to the assistant commissioners, or the officer in charge of any branch, division, office, or agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, insofar as such powers and duties relate to action in individual cases arising under general regulations promulgated by the Secretary of the Interior or the Commissioner of Indian Affairs pursuant to law. Such delegated powers shall be exercised subject to appeal to the Secretary, under regulations to be prescribed by him, or, as from time to time determined by him, to the Deputy Secretary or to an Assistant Secretary of the Department of the Interior, or to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. The Secretary or the Commissioner, as the case may be, may at any time revoke the whole or any part of a delegation made pursuant to this section, but no such revocation shall be given retroactive effect. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to abrogate or curtail any authority to make delegations conferred by any other provision of law, nor shall anything in this section be deemed to convey authority to delegate any power to issue regulations.
25 U.S.C. § 2 Duties of Commissioner
The Commissioner of Indian Affairs shall, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, and agreeably to such regulations as the President may prescribe, have the management of all Indian affairs and of all matters arising out of Indian relations.
25 U.S.C. § 2a Assistant or deputy commissioners; appointment; powers and duties
Assistant or deputy commissioners of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, in the Department of the Interior, shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Interior, subject to the civil-service laws and chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5. Appointments to these positions shall be considered as made under the authority of section 3101 of title 5. Assistant and deputy commissioners so appointed shall be authorized to sign such letters, papers, and documents and to perform such other duties as may be directed by the commissioner of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Secretary may designate for the Bureau of Indian Affairs an assistant or deputy commissioner, who shall be authorized to perform the duties of the commissioner in case of the death, resignation, absence, or sickness of the commissioner.
25 U.S.C. § 3 Compilation of statutes regulating duties of Indian agents and inspectors
It shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to cause to be compiled and printed for the use of Indian agents and inspectors the provisions of the statutes regulating the performance of their respective duties, and also to furnish said officers from time to time information of new enactments upon the same subject.
25 U.S.C. § 4 Defective record of deeds and papers legalized
The recording of all deeds and papers prior to July 26, 1892, in the office of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs is confirmed, approved, and legalized; and said record theretofore made shall be deemed, taken, and held to be good and valid and shall have all the force and effect and be entitled to the same credit as if it had been made in pursuance of and in conformity to law. But shall have no effect whatever upon the validity or invalidity of the deed or paper so recorded, and shall be no evidence of constructive notice to any persons not actually knowing the contents.
25 U.S.C. § 5 Record of deeds by Indians requiring approval
The Commissioner of Indian Affairs is hereby empowered and directed to continue to make and keep a record of every deed executed by any Indian, his heirs, representatives, or assigns, which may require the approval of the President of the United States or of the Secretary of the Interior, whenever such approval shall have been given, and the deed so approved returned to said office.
25 U.S.C. § 6 Seal; authenticated and certified documents; evidence
The Commissioner of Indian Affairs shall cause a seal to be made and provided for the said office, with such device as the President of the United States shall approve, and copies of any public documents, records, books, maps, or papers belonging to or on the files of said office, authenticated by the seal and certified by the Commissioner thereof, or by such officer as may, for the time being, be acting as or for such Commissioner, shall be evidence equally with the originals thereof.
25 U.S.C. § 7 Fees for furnishing certified copies of records
The Commissioner of Indian Affairs shall have the custody of said seal, and shall furnish certified copies of any such records, books, maps, or papers belonging to or on the files of said office, to any person applying therefor who shall comply with the requirements of said office, upon the payment by such parties at the rate of 10 cents per hundred words, and $1 for copies of maps or plats, and the additional sum of 25 cents for the Commissioner’s certificate of verification, with the seal of said office; and one of the employees of said office shall be designated by the Commissioner as the receiving clerk, and the amounts so received shall, under the direction of the Commissioner, be paid into the Treasury of the United States; but fees shall not be demanded for such authenticated copies as may be required by the officers of any branch of the Government or by any Indian who shall satisfy the Commissioner by satisfactory legal evidence that he or she is not able, by reason of poverty, to pay such fees, nor for such unverified copies as the Commissioner in his discretion may deem proper to furnish.
25 U.S.C. § 8 Accounts for claims and disbursements
All accounts and vouchers for claims and disbursements connected with Indian affairs shall be transmitted to the Commissioner for administrative examination, and by him passed to the Government Accountability Office for settlement.
25 U.S.C. § 9 Regulations by President
The President may prescribe such regulations as he may think fit for carrying into effect the various provisions of any act relating to Indian affairs, and for the settlement of the accounts of Indian affairs.
25 U.S.C. § 10 Employee to sign letters
The Commissioner of Indian Affairs, with the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, may designate an employee of the Indian Office to sign letters of that office requiring the signature of the commissioner or assistant commissioner, and all signatures of such employee while acting under such designation shall have the same force and effect as if made by said commissioner or assistant commissioner.
25 U.S.C. § 11 Employee or employees to sign approval of tribal deeds
The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to designate an employee or employees of the Department of the Interior to sign, under the direction of the Secretary, in his name and for him, his approval of tribal deeds to allottees, to purchasers of town lots, to purchasers of unallotted lands, to persons, corporations, or organizations for lands reserved to them under the law for their use and benefit, and to any tribal deeds made and executed according to law for any of the Five Civilized Tribes of Indians in Oklahoma.
25 U.S.C. § 12 Agent to negotiate commutation of annuities
The Commissioner of Indian Affairs is authorized to send a special Indian Agent, or other representative of his office, to visit any Indian tribe for the purpose of negotiating and entering into a written agreement with such tribe for the commutation of the perpetual annuities due under treaty stipulations, to be subject to the approval of Congress; and the Commissioner of Indian Affairs shall transmit to Congress said agreements with such recommendations as he may deem proper.
25 U.S.C. § 13 Expenditure of appropriations by Bureau
The Bureau of Indian Affairs, under the supervision of the Secretary of the Interior, shall direct, supervise, and expend such moneys as Congress may from time to time appropriate, for the benefit, care, and assistance of the Indians throughout the United States for the following purposes: General support and civilization, including education. For relief of distress and conservation of health. For industrial assistance and advancement and general administration of Indian property. For extension, improvement, operation, and maintenance of existing Indian irrigation systems and for development of water supplies. For the enlargement, extension, improvement, and repair of the buildings and grounds of existing plants and projects. For the employment of inspectors, supervisors, superintendents, clerks, field matrons, farmers, physicians, Indian police, Indian judges, and other employees. For the suppression of traffic in intoxicating liquor and deleterious drugs. For the purchase of horse-drawn and motor-propelled passenger-carrying vehicles for official use. And for general and incidental expenses in connection with the administration of Indian affairs. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or any other law, postsecondary schools administered by the Secretary of the Interior for Indians, and which meet the definition of an “institution of higher education” under section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 [20 U.S.C. 1001], shall be eligible to participate in and receive appropriated funds under any program authorized by the Higher Education Act of 1965 [20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.] or any other applicable program for the benefit of institutions of higher education, community colleges, or postsecondary educational institutions.
25 U.S.C. § 13a Carryover funding
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any funds appropriated pursuant to section 13 of this title, for any fiscal year which are not obligated or expended prior to the beginning of the fiscal year succeeding the fiscal year for which such funds were appropriated shall remain available for obligation or expenditures during such succeeding fiscal year. In the case of amounts made available to a tribal organization under a self-determination contract, if the funds are to be expended in the succeeding fiscal year for the purpose for which they were originally appropriated, contracted or granted, or for which they are authorized to be used pursuant to the provisions of section 5325(a)(3) 11 See References in Text note below. of this title, no additional justification or documentation of such purposes need be provided by the tribal organization to the Secretary as a condition of receiving or expending such funds.
25 U.S.C. § 13b Payment of care, tuition, assistance, and other expenses of Indians in boarding homes, institutions, and schools; payment of rewards
On and after October 12, 1984, funds appropriated under this or any other Act for the Bureau of Indian Affairs may be used for the payment in advance or from date or admission of care, tuition, assistance, and other expenses of Indians in boarding homes, institutions, or schools; and the payment of rewards for information or evidence concerning violations of law on Indian reservation lands or treaty fishing rights use areas.
25 U.S.C. § 13c Source of funds to pay cost of lunches for nonboarding public school students
On and after October 12, 1984, any cost of providing lunches to nonboarding students in public schools from funds appropriated under this or any other Act for the Bureau of Indian Affairs shall be paid from the amount of such funds otherwise allocated for the schools involved without regard to the cost of providing lunches for such students.
25 U.S.C. § 13d Limits on use of appropriated funds by Bureau for general or other welfare assistance
After September 30, 1985, no part of any appropriation (except trust funds) to the Bureau of Indian Affairs may be used directly or by contract for general or other welfare assistance (except child welfare assistance) payments (1) for other than essential needs (specifically identified in regulations of the Secretary or in regulations of the State public welfare agency pursuant to the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 301 et seq.] adopted by reference in the Secretary’s regulations) which could not be reasonably expected to be met from financial resources or income (including funds held in trust) available to the recipient individual which are not exempted under law from consideration in determining eligibility for or the amount of Federal financial assistance or (2) for individuals who are eligible for general public welfare assistance available from a State except to the extent the Secretary of the Interior determines that such payments are required under sections 6(b)(2), 6(i), and 9(b) of the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980 (94 Stat. 1793, 1794, 1796; 25 U.S.C. 1725(b)(2), 1725(i), 1728(b)).11 See References in Text note below.
25 U.S.C. § 13d–1 Standards of need as basis for general assistance payments by Bureau of Indian Affairs; ratable reductions
General assistance payments made by the Bureau of Indian Affairs shall be made—
(1) after April 29, 1985, and before October 1, 1995, on the basis of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) standards of need; and
(2) on and after October 1, 1995, on the basis of standards of need established under the State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.],
except that where a State ratably reduces its AFDC or State program payments, the Bureau shall reduce general assistance payments in such State by the same percentage as the State has reduced the AFDC or State program payment.
25 U.S.C. § 13d–2 Enrollment and general assistance payments
(a) In generalThe Secretary of the Interior shall not disqualify from continued receipt of general assistance payments from the Bureau of Indian Affairs an otherwise eligible Indian for whom the Bureau is making or may make general assistance payments (or exclude such an individual from continued consideration in determining the amount of general assistance payments for a household) because the individual is enrolled (and is making satisfactory progress toward completion of a program or training that can reasonably be expected to lead to gainful employment) for at least half-time study or training in—(1) a college assisted by the Bureau under the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978 (92 Stat. 1325; 25 U.S.C. 1801) or the Navajo Community College Act (85 Stat. 645; 25 U.S.C. 640a); 11 See References in Text note below. (2) an institution of higher education or a vocational school (as defined for purposes of any program of assistance to students under the Higher Education Act of 1965 [20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.]); (3) a course the Secretary determines will lead to a high school diploma or an equivalent certificate; or (4) other programs or training approved by the Secretary or by tribal education, employment or training programs.
(b) Factors not to be consideredIn determining the amount of general assistance provided by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Secretary of the Interior shall not include consideration of—(1) additional expenses in connection with the study or training described in subsection (a), and (2) the amount of any financial assistance received by the individual as a student or trainee.
(c) No effect on other eligibility requirementsThis section does not alter any eligibility requirement for general assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs other than the requirement to be available for employment and to seek employment.
25 U.S.C. § 13d–3 Tribal authority to change eligibility for, or amount of, general assistance payments
On and after October 21, 1998, notwithstanding any other provision of law, Indian tribal governments may, by appropriate changes in eligibility criteria or by other means, change eligibility for general assistance or change the amount of general assistance payments for individuals within the service area of such tribe who are otherwise deemed eligible for general assistance payments so long as such changes are applied in a consistent manner to individuals similarly situated and, that any savings realized by such changes shall be available for use in meeting other priorities of the tribes and, that any net increase in costs to the Federal Government which result solely from tribally increased payment levels for general assistance shall be met exclusively from funds available to the tribe from within its tribal priority allocation.
25 U.S.C. § 13e Expenses of exhibits; advance payments for services; termination of Federal supervision; treaty expenses
On and after October 12, 1984, such appropriations [appropriations for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (except the revolving fund for loans and the Indian loan guarantee and insurance fund)] under this or any other act shall be available for: the expenses of exhibits; advance payments for services (including services which may extend beyond the current fiscal year) under contracts executed pursuant to the Act of June 4, 1936 (48 Stat. 596), as amended (25 U.S.C. 452 et seq.),11 See References in Text note below. the Act of August 3, 1956 (70 Stat. 896), as amended (25 U.S.C. 309 et seq.), and legislation terminating Federal supervision over certain tribes; and expenses required by continuing or permanent treaty provision.
25 U.S.C. § 13f Tribal priority allocations in Alaska
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, with respect to amounts made available for tribal priority allocations in Alaska, such amounts on and after October 11, 2000, shall only be provided to tribes the membership of which on June 1 of the preceding fiscal year is composed of at least 25 individuals who are Natives (as such term is defined in section 1602(b) of title 43) who reside in the area generally known as the village for such tribe.
(b) Amounts that would have been made available for tribal priority allocations in Alaska but for the limitation contained in subsection (a) shall be provided to the respective Alaska Native regional nonprofit corporation (as listed in section 103(a)(2) of Public Law 104–193,11 See References in Text note below. 110 Stat. 2159) for the respective region in which a tribe subject to subsection (a) is located, notwithstanding any resolution authorized under federal 22 So in original. Probably should be capitalized. law to the contrary.
25 U.S.C. § 14 Money accruing to Indians from Department of Veterans Affairs or other governmental agencies
Any money accruing from the Department of Veterans Affairs or other governmental agency to incompetent adult Indians, or minor Indians, who are recognized wards of the Federal Government, for whom no legal guardians or other fiduciaries have been appointed may be paid, in the discretion of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or other head of a governmental bureau or agency, having such funds for payment, to such superintendent or other bonded officer of the Indian Service as the Secretary of the Interior shall designate, for the use of such beneficiaries, or to be paid to or used for, the heirs of such deceased beneficiaries, to be handled and accounted for by him with other moneys under his control, in accordance with existing law and the regulations of the Department of the Interior.
25 U.S.C. § 14a Deposit of grant funds received by Bureau from other Federal agencies
On and after October 12, 1984, moneys received by grant to the Bureau of Indian Affairs from other Federal agencies to carry out various programs for elementary and secondary education, handicapped programs, bilingual education, and other specific programs shall be deposited into the appropriation account available for the operation of Bureau schools during the period covered by the grant and shall remain available as otherwise provided by law.
25 U.S.C. § 14b Disposition of funds received from public for goods and services provided by Bureau of Indian Affairs
The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to retain collections from the public in payment for goods and services provided by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Such collections shall be credited to the appropriation account against which obligations were incurred in providing such goods and services.
25 U.S.C. § 15 Utility facilities used in administration of Bureau; contracts for sale, operation, maintenance, repair or relocation of facilities; terms and conditions; exception; Congressional approval
Except for electric utility systems constructed and operated as a part of an irrigation system, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to contract under such terms and conditions as he considers to be in the best interest of the Federal Government for the sale, operation, maintenance, repairs, or relocation of Government-owned utilities and utility systems and appurtenances used in the administration of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Secretary shall not execute a contract pursuant to this section until he has submitted to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a copy of the contract and a statement of his reasons for proposing the contract, and until such materials have lain before the Committees for sixty days (excluding the time during which either House is in recess for more than three days) unless prior thereto the Secretary is notified that neither committee has any objection to the proposed contract.
25 U.S.C. § 16 Transportation of Indians in Bureau vehicles
On and after October 12, 1984, passenger carrying motor vehicles of the Bureau of Indian Affairs may be used for the transportation of Indians.
25 U.S.C. § 17 Use of Bureau facilities
(a) In generalThe Secretary of the Interior may permit tribal governments and organizations and student organizations to use Bureau of Indian Affairs equipment, land, buildings, and other structures if such use does not interfere with the purpose for which they are administered by the Bureau and when such use benefits Indians or Federal or federally funded programs. The Secretary may charge the user for the cost of the utilities and other expenses incurred for the use. The amounts collected shall be credited to the appropriation or fund from which the expenses are paid and shall be available until the end of the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which collected. The Secretary’s decision to not permit a use under this section is final and shall not be subject to judicial review.
(b) Scope of authorityThe authority provided by this section is in addition to, and not in derogation of, any other authority available to the Secretary of the Interior.
(c) Limitation of liabilityThe payment of any fee, or agreement to pay costs, to the Secretary shall not in any way or to any extent limit the right of the United States to rely upon sovereign immunity or any State or Federal statute limiting liability or damages from injuries sustained in connection with use under this section.
25 U.S.C. § 13–1 Authorization of appropriations for funds for basic educational support through parent committees
Such sums as are needed under section 13 of this title are authorized to be appropriated to provide funds for basic educational support through parent committees under the Act of April 16, 1934 [25 U.S.C. 5342 et seq.], to those public schools educating Indian students and whose total sum of Federal, State, and local funds is insufficient to bring the education of the enrolled Indian students to a level equal to the level of education provided non-Indian students in the public schools in which they are enrolled where the absence of such support would result in the closing of schools or the reduction in quality of the education program afforded Indian students attending public schools.