The Sacred Buffalo Vision by Robert J. Juneau and Robert C. Juneau pg.168

Referring specifically to the amendment adding Section 2, the Congressional Conferees stated: “The language of the House amendment requires a report to be submitted to the Congress by the Secretary of the Interior, after consultation with the Attorney General, by June 30, 1981, which details legislative proposals to resolve those Indian claims that they feel are not appropriate to resolve by litigation. The Conference Report adopts the language of the House amendment. This language was agreed to by the Conferees to ensure that these claims are expeditiously and equitably resolved.”

Senator Cohen, Chairman of the Select Committee on Indian Affairs, U.S. Senate, concluded that Section 2 of P.L. 96-217 imposes a duty on the Secretary of the Interior and the Attorney General to propose legislative solutions for all those claims they decide not to litigate: “It is clear from the legislative history that Congress wanted assistance from the Interior and Justice Depts. in the form of carefully considered legislative proposals designed to resolve those claims deemed inappropriate for litigation in order to bring about a swift, yet equitable conclusion to the 2415 Indian Claims Program. It is also clear that from the stipulated facts, however, that the Interior and Justice Departments have not complied with Section 2 of P.L. 96-217.”
-The Sacred Buffalo Vision by Robert J. Juneau and Robert C. Juneau  
pg.168