25 U.S.C. § 12 — Agent to negotiate commutation of annuities

The Commissioner of Indian Affairs may send a special Indian Agent, or another representative from that office, to visit an Indian tribe. That representative's job is to negotiate a written agreement with the tribe. The agreement would commute -- that is, convert into a different form -- the perpetual annuities the tribe is owed under treaty terms. Any such agreement needs Congress's approval. The Commissioner must send these agreements to Congress, along with whatever recommendations the Commissioner thinks are appropriate.