Over 100 of the nation's 400 Indian tribes are overlooked in the administration of Indian trust responsibility. Senate Bill 2375 establishes administrative procedure to be followed by the Department of the Interior in acknowledging a federal relationship with certain Indian tribes. On April 18, 1978 testimony was conducted before the Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs. The bill's value and desirability were acclaimed by those testifying, but objections were raised to certain components. The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) expressed concern that massive and indiscriminate recognition of groups claiming to be tribes might result in the "federal funding pie" being sliced too thin among beneficiary groups. The NCAI submitted 12 principles for determining tribal credentials which, if incorporated in the bill, would make it acceptable. Objection was also raised to the proposed creation of a new office in the Department of Interior to consider and process petitions for federal recognition; such an office might instead be established within the existing framework of the Bureau of Indian Affairs to avoid unnecessary duplication of personnel and to utilize expertise currently within the BIA. This document includes the bill itself, proceedings of the hearing, and informal and prepared statements of witnesses appearing. (DS)