Title 25, IndiansRelease 119-102
§13 Expenditure of Appropriations by Bureau
Title 25 › CHAPTER 1 — BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS › § 13
Summary
The Bureau of Indian Affairs, under the Secretary of the Interior, must use money Congress provides to help American Indians. That money pays for general support and education; relief and health care; industrial help and managing Indian property; irrigation, water development, and upkeep of projects and buildings; hiring needed staff (for example inspectors, supervisors, clerks, field matrons, farmers, doctors, Indian police and judges); stopping alcohol and drug traffic; buying official passenger vehicles; and other normal administrative costs. Even if other laws say otherwise, postsecondary schools run by the Secretary of the Interior that meet the Higher Education Act’s definition of an “institution of higher education” can take part in and receive funds under the Higher Education Act or any other eligible programs for colleges, community colleges, or postsecondary schools.
Full Legal Text
Title 25, §13
Indians, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
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.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Higher Education Act of 1965, referred to in text, is Pub. L. 89–329, Nov. 8, 1965, 79 Stat. 1219, which is classified generally to chapter 28 (§ 1001 et seq.) of Title 20, Education. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 1001 of Title 20 and Tables.
Amendments
1998—Pub. L. 105–244, which directed substitution of “101” for “1201” in the last paragraph of “section 410 of the Act entitled ‘An Act authorizing appropriations and expenditures for the administration of Indian Affairs, and for other purposes’, approved November 2, 1921 (25 U.S.C. 13) (commonly known as the Snyder Act)”, was executed to last paragraph of this section, which is the act of Nov. 2, 1921, ch. 115, commonly known as the Snyder Act, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. This section was amended by section 410 of Pub. L. 94–482 to add the last paragraph. 1976—Pub. L. 94–482 inserted provisions relating to postsecondary schools administered by the Secretary of the Interior for Indians.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1998 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 105–244 effective Oct. 1, 1998, except as otherwise provided in Pub. L. 105–244, see section 3 of Pub. L. 105–244, set out as a note under section 1001 of Title 20, Education.
Effective Date
of 1976 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 94–482 effective 30 days after Oct. 12, 1976, except either as specifically otherwise provided or, if not so specifically otherwise provided, effective July 1, 1976, for those
Amendments
providing for authorization of appropriations, see section 532 of Pub. L. 94–482, set out as a note under section 1001 of Title 20, Education.
Short Title
Act Nov. 2, 1921, which enacted this section, is popularly known as the “Snyder Act”. Availability of Housing Improvement Program Grant Repayments for Program Obligations Pub. L. 101–121, title I, Oct. 23, 1989, 103 Stat. 714, provided: “That hereafter, notwithstanding any other provision of law, amounts collected from grantees by the Secretary as grant repayments required under the Secretary’s
Regulations
for the Housing Improvement Program shall be credited in the year collected and shall be available for obligation under the terms and conditions applicable to the Program under that year’s appropriation”. Alternative Methods for Equitable Distribution of Supplemental Program Funds; Development, Publication, etc., of Formula Pub. L. 95–561, title XI, § 1102, Nov. 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 2316, provided that: “(a) The Secretary of the Interior shall develop alternative methods for the equitable distribution of any supplement program funds provided, pursuant to an appropriation under the Act of
November 2, 1921, commonly referred to as the Snyder Act [25 U.S.C. 13], for contracting under the Act of
April 16, 1934, commonly referred to as the Johnson-O’Malley Act [25 U.S.C. 5342 et seq.], and shall publish in the Federal Register by
March 1, 1979, such alternatives for the purpose of allowing eligible tribes to comment by
May 1, 1979. At that time, the Secretary shall conduct a field survey listing all alternative formula. “(b) By
July 1, 1979, the Secretary shall establish and publish the formula in the Federal Register which the majority of such tribes determine, but vote certified to the Secretary, to be most equitable and shall use such formula for purposes of distribution of the funds appropriated pursuant to such Act beginning on or after
October 1, 1979. The Secretary shall, in accordance with procedures consistent with that prescribed herein, revise such formula periodically as necessary”. Payments for Basic Educational Support Grants or Contracts; Authorization; Time Pub. L. 95–561, title XI, § 1103(a), Nov. 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 2316, as amended by Pub. L. 96–46, § 2(b)(1), Aug. 6, 1979, 93 Stat. 341, provided that payments for basic educational support grants or contracts for fiscal year 1978, including any fiscal year 1978 funds subsequently obligated in fiscal year 1979, were to be made under the authority of act Apr. 16, 1934, and set forth conditions, time, etc., for payments.
Executive Documents
Transfer of Functions
For
Transfer of Functions
of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of the Interior, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of the Interior, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1950, §§ 1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1262, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
25 U.S.C. § 13
Title 25, Indians
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102