# 117-s-789: RESPECT Act

117-s-789, RESPECT Act, is a 117th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD] (R-SD); status became_law (as of 2026-01-05).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-s-789
- As of: 2026-01-05
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 117-s-789
- Congress: 117
- Title: RESPECT Act
- Status: became_law
- Introduced: 2021-03-17
- Sponsor: Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD] (R-SD)
- Cosponsors: 5
- Policy area: Native Americans
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-01-05

## Summary

**Repeals outdated federal provisions related to Indian affairs.** This law removes eleven specified 19th- and early 20th-century statutes and selected paragraphs that are obsolete, striking deprecated authorities and references from the United States Code. It does not create new programs or fund obligations and leaves the remainder of modern Indian law and the statute book unchanged beyond these targeted repeals.

## Cosponsors (5)

- Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN] (D-MN), 2021-03-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK] (R-OK), 2021-03-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sinema, Kyrsten [D-AZ-9] (D-AZ), 2021-03-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM] (D-NM), 2021-04-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND] (R-ND), 2021-04-22T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Outdated tribal-related laws repealed: benefit, low. The law repeals several outdated federal laws on tribal affairs. Agencies and courts no longer rely on those old sections. It also ends an 1875 rule that let Interior withhold tribal payments if a tribe held non‑Indian captives. Interior cannot withhold payments under that old clause. These changes…

## Related bills

- 117-s-2607: Iran Hostages Congressional Gold Medal Act
- 117-sres-845: A resolution recognizing National Native American Heritage Month and celebrating the heritages and cultures of Native Americans and the contributions of Native…
- 117-sres-748: A resolution honoring and celebrating the life and legacy of Representative Jackie Walorski.
- 117-s-4587: Benjamin Berell Ferencz Congressional Gold Medal Act
- 117-sres-621: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the late Senator Orrin G. Hatch.
- 117-sres-593: A resolution relating to the death of Kaneaster Hodges, Jr., former United States Senator for the State of Arkansas.

## Sources
- [117-s-789 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/789)

## Related
- [117-s-2607: Iran Hostages Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-s-2607)
- [117-sres-845: A resolution recognizing National Native American Heritage Month and celebratin…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-sres-845)
- [117-sres-748: A resolution honoring and celebrating the life and legacy of Representative Jac…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-sres-748)
- [117-s-4587: Benjamin Berell Ferencz Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-s-4587)
- [117-sres-621: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the late Senator Orrin G. Hatch.](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-sres-621)
- [117-sres-593: A resolution relating to the death of Kaneaster Hodges, Jr., former United Stat…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-sres-593)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-s-789 (as of 2026-01-05).