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[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1425 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1425

To improve the management, productivity, and use of Indian agricultural 
                          lands and resources.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 18, 1993

   Mr. Richardson (for himself, Mr. Johnson of South Dakota, and Mr. 
  Williams) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
To improve the management, productivity, and use of Indian agricultural 
                          lands and resources.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``American Indian Agricultural Act of 
1993''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    (a) The Congress finds and declares that--
            (1) the United States and Indian tribes have a government 
        to government relationship;
            (2) the United States has a trust responsibility to 
        protect, conserve, utilize, and enhance Indian rangelands and 
        farmlands consistent with its fiduciary obligation and its 
        unique relationship with Indian tribes;
            (3) Indian agricultural lands are renewable and manageable 
        natural resources which are vital to the economic, social and 
        cultural welfare of many Indian tribes and their members; and
            (4) increased development and intensive management of 
        Indian agricultural lands will produce increased economic 
        returns, enhance Indian self-determination, promote employment 
        opportunities, and improve the social and economic well-being 
        of Indian and surrounding communities.

SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are to--
            (1) meet the trust responsibility of the United States and 
        promote self-determination of Indian tribes by managing Indian 
        lands and related renewable resources in a manner consistent 
        with identified tribal goals and priorities and nationally 
        adopted multiple use and sustained yield principles;
            (2) allow the Secretary to take part in the management of 
        Indian agricultural lands, with the participation of the lands' 
        beneficial owners, in a manner consistent with the Secretary's 
        trust responsibility and with the objectives of the beneficial 
        owners;
            (3) provide for the development and management of Indian 
        agricultural lands at a level commensurate with the level of 
        development and management afforded to federally owned or 
        controlled lands; and
            (4) increase the educational and training opportunities 
        available to Indian people and communities in the practical, 
        technical and professional aspects of agriculture, natural 
        resources, and land management to improve the expertise and 
        technical abilities of Indian tribes and their members.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    For the purposes of this Act:
            (1) The term ``agricultural land'' means land that is used 
        for the production of agricultural products, and lands occupied 
        by industries that support the agricultural community, 
        regardless of whether a formal inspection and land 
        classification has been taken. The term shall include farmlands 
        and rangelands.
            (2) The term ``agricultural product'' means--
                    (A) crops grown under cultivated conditions whether 
                used for personal consumption, subsistence, or sold for 
                commercial benefit;
                    (B) domestic livestock, including cattle, sheep, 
                goats, horses, buffalo, swine, reindeer, fowl, 
                cultivated fish, or other animals specifically raised 
                and utilized for food, fiber, or as beast of burden;
                    (C) forage, hay, fodder, feed grains, crop residues 
                and other items grown or harvested for the feeding and 
                care of livestock, sold for commercial profit, or used 
                for other purposes; and
                    (D) other marketable or traditionally used 
                materials authorized for removal from agricultural 
                lands.
            (3) The term ``agricultural resource'' means--
                    (A) all the primary means of production, including 
                the land, soil, water, air, plants, watersheds, human 
                resources, natural and physical attributes and man-made 
                developments, which together comprise the agricultural 
                community; and
                    (B) all the benefits derived from agricultural land 
                and enterprises, including cultivated and gathered food 
                products, fibers, horticultural products, dyes, 
                cultural or religious condiments, medicines, water, and 
                other traditional values of agriculture.
            (4) The term ``Bureau'' means the Bureau of Indian Affairs 
        of the Department of the Interior.
            (5) The term ``farmland'' means land that is used for 
        production of food, feed, fiber, forage and oil seed crops, or 
        other agricultural products, and may be either dryland or 
        irrigated.
            (6) The term ``Indian'' means an individual who is a member 
        of an Indian tribe.
            (7) The term ``Indian land'' means land that is--
                    (A) held in trust by the United States for an 
                Indian or Indian tribe; or
                    (B) owned by an Indian or Indian tribe and is 
                subject to restrictions against alienation.
            (8) The term ``Indian tribe'' means any Indian tribe, band, 
        nation, pueblo, or other organized group or community, 
        including any Alaska Native village or regional corporation as 
        defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims 
        Settlement Act, which is recognized as eligible for the special 
        programs and services provided by the United States to Indian 
        tribes because of their status as Indians.
            (9) The term ``land management activity'' means all 
        activities, accomplished in support of the management of Indian 
        agricultural land, including but not limited to--
                    (A) preparation of inventories and management 
                plans;
                    (B) agricultural land and infrastructure 
                development, and the application of accepted soil or 
                range management techniques to improve or restore the 
                productive capacity of the land;
                    (C) protection against agricultural pests, 
                including development, implementation, and evaluation 
                of integrated pest management programs to control 
                noxious weeds, undesirable vegetation, and vertebrate 
                or invertebrate agricultural pests;
                    (D) administration and supervision of agricultural 
                leasing and permitting activities, including 
                determination of proper land use and proper stocking 
                rates of livestock, appraisal, advertisement, 
                negotiation, contract preparation, collecting, 
                recording, and distributing lease rental receipts;
                    (E) technical assistance to individuals and tribes 
                engaged in agricultural production or agribusiness; and
                    (F) educational assistance in agriculture, natural 
                resources, land management and related fields of study, 
                including direct assistance to tribally controlled 
                community colleges in developing and implementing 
                curriculum for vocational, technical and professional 
                course work.
            (10) The term ``landowner'' means the Indian or Indian 
        tribe that--
                    (A) owns such Indian land, or
                    (B) is the beneficiary of the trust under which 
                such Indian land is held by the United States.
            (11) The term ``rangeland'' means land on which the native 
        vegetation is predominantly grasses, grass-like plants, forbs, 
        or shrubs suitable for grazing or browsing use, and includes 
        lands revegetated naturally or artificially to provide a forage 
        cover that is managed like native vegetation. Rangelands 
        include natural grasslands, savannahs, shrublands, most 
        deserts, tundra, alpine communities, coastal marshes, and wet 
        meadows.
            (12) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the 
        Interior.

              TITLE I--RANGELAND AND FARMLAND ENHANCEMENT

SEC. 101. MANAGEMENT OF INDIAN RANGELANDS AND FARMLANDS.

    (a) Management Activities.--The Secretary shall undertake rangeland 
and farmland management activities on Indian lands, either directly or 
through contracts, cooperative agreements, or grants as provided for 
under the Indian Self-Determination Act.
    (b) Management Objectives.--Indian rangeland and farmland 
management activities undertaken by the Secretary designed to achieve 
the following objectives:
            (1) Protecting, conserving, utilizing, and enhancing 
        rangelands and farmlands so that they are in a perpetually 
        productive state through the application of sound agronomic and 
        economic principles to the planning, development, inventorying, 
        classification, and management of agricultural resources.
            (2) Increasing production and expanding the diversity and 
        availability of agricultural products for subsistence, income, 
        and employment of Indians through the development of renewable 
        agricultural resources.
            (3) Managing agricultural resources to protect and enhance 
        other associated values such as wildlife, fisheries, cultural 
        resources, recreation; to regulate water runoff; and to 
        minimize soil erosion.
            (4) Enabling Indian farmers and ranchers to maximize the 
        potential benefits available to them through their land by 
        providing technical assistance, training, and education in 
        conservation practices, management and economics of 
        agribusiness, sources and use of credit and marketing of 
        agricultural products, and other applicable subject areas.
            (5) Developing Indian rangelands and farmlands and 
        associated value-added industries of Indians and Indian tribes 
        to promote self-sustaining communities.
    (c) Indian Agricultural Resource Management Planning Program.--(1) 
The Secretary shall establish the Indian agricultural resource 
management planning program in order to achieve the objectives set 
forth in subsection (b).
    (2)(A) The Secretary shall provide for the development of an 
agricultural resource management plan for any interested Indian tribe. 
The plan shall be developed by the tribe working cooperatively with the 
local personnel from the Bureau. The tribe and the Bureau shall conduct 
a series of public meetings to determine and document the specific 
tribal agricultural resource goals and objectives.
    (B) The Secretary and the Indian tribe shall develop a 10-year 
agricultural resource management plan to attain the goals and 
objectives as developed pursuant to subparagraph (A). In the 
development of the 10-year plan, the tribe shall rely on the public 
meeting records, existing surveys, documents, reports and other 
research from Federal agencies, tribal community colleges, and land 
grant institutions.
    (3) The Secretary shall ensure that each plan contains specific 
agriculture and land management programs and activities which have been 
approved by tribal resolution.
    (4) Tribal agricultural plans developed under this section shall 
provide the direction to the Bureau and the Indian tribes in the 
management and administration of tribal agricultural resources and 
lands.
    (5) The contract and grant provisions of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act shall be applicable to the 
development of these management plans.

SEC. 102. INDIAN PARTICIPATION IN LAND MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES.

    (a) Tribal Recognition.--The Secretary shall conduct all land 
management activities on the lands of an Indian tribe in accordance 
with goals and objectives set forth by the Indian tribe and in 
accordance with all tribal laws and ordinances except in specific 
instances where such compliance would be a violation of trust 
responsibility of the United States for Indian Trust Lands.
    (b) Tribal Laws.--Unless otherwise prohibited by Federal law, the 
Secretary shall comply with adopted tribal laws and ordinances 
pertaining to Indian agriculture lands, including laws regulating the 
environment, historic or cultural preservation, and laws or ordinances 
adopted by the tribal government to regulate land use or other 
activities under tribal jurisdiction. The Secretary shall--
            (1) provide assistance in the enforcement of such tribal 
        laws;
            (2) provide notice of such laws to persons or entities 
        undertaking activities on Indian agricultural lands; and
            (3) upon request of an Indian tribe, require appropriate 
        Federal officials to appear in tribal forums.
    (c) Waiver of Regulations.--In any case in which a regulation or 
administrative policy of the Department of the Interior conflicts with 
the objectives of the management plan provided for in section 101, or 
with a tribal law, the Secretary shall waive the application of such 
regulation or administrative policy unless such waiver would constitute 
a violation of a Federal statute or judicial decision or would conflict 
with his general trust responsibility under Federal law.

SEC. 103. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF INDIAN RANGELAND AND FARMLAND AND 
              MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS.

    (a) Comparative Analysis.--Within 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall assemble a 12 member Task 
Force consisting of 1 representative from each of the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Park Service, 
and a national Indian agriculture organization, and 8 representatives 
of Indian tribes to develop a comparative analysis of Federal 
investment and management efforts for Indian trust and restricted lands 
as compared to federally owned lands managed by other Federal agencies 
or instrumentalities. The Secretary shall request the Secretary of 
Agriculture to make available on a nonreimbursable basis appropriate 
personnel from the Department of Agriculture to assist in the 
development of such analysis.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of the comparative analysis shall be--
            (1) to establish a comprehensive assessment of improvement, 
        funding, and development needs for each reservation and tribal 
        jurisdiction with Indian agricultural land;
            (2) to establish a comparison of management and funding 
        provided to comparable lands owned or managed by the Federal 
        Government through Federal agencies other than the Bureau of 
        Indian Affairs; and
            (3) to identify any obstacles to Indian access to Federal 
        or private programs relating to agriculture or related rural 
        development programs generally available to the public.
    (c) Implementation.--Within 6 months from the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall provide the Subcommittee on Native 
American Affairs of the Natural Resource Committee of the House of 
Representatives and the Select Committee on Indian Affairs of the 
Senate with a status report on the development of the comparative 
analysis required by this section and shall file a final report with 
the Congress not more than 9 months from the date of enactment of this 
Act.

SEC. 104. LEASING OF INDIAN RANGELANDS AND FARMLANDS.

    The Secretary--
            (1) in accordance with a general policy established by the 
        tribal government having jurisdiction over agricultural lands 
        as set forth by a tribal resolution on record with the 
        Secretary--
                    (A) shall promote the use of such agricultural 
                lands by Indian people, and
                    (B) notwithstanding any other provision of law, may 
                approve any agricultural lease or permit which contains 
                a provision authorizing the renewal or renewals of such 
                lease or permit for a period of years determined by the 
                tribal government to be necessary to meet the purposes 
                of this Act, including any such lease or permit with a 
                tenure up to 10 years, or a tenure longer than 10 years 
                when, in the opinion of the Secretary, such lease or 
                permit requires substantial investment in and 
                development of the lands by the lessee and such longer 
                tenure is determined by the Secretary to be in the best 
                interest of the landowners;
            (2) may offer for lease or permit on the open market only 
        those lands which are surplus to the needs of Indian 
        communities; and
            (3) may lease or permit agricultural lands for rates which 
        reflect local economy based rental rates of less than the 
        Federal appraisal when such action would be in the best 
        interest of the landowner, and in such instances, when such 
        land has been satisfactorily advertised for lease, the highest 
        reasonable bid shall be accepted.

             TITLE II--EDUCATION IN AGRICULTURE MANAGEMENT

SEC. 201. INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE AGRICULTURE MANAGEMENT EDUCATION 
              ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.

    (a) Natural Resources Intern Program.--(1) Notwithstanding the 
provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in 
the competitive service, the Secretary shall establish and maintain in 
the Bureau or other appropriate office or bureau within the Department 
of the Interior at least 20 agricultural resources intern positions for 
Indian students enrolled in an agriculture study program.
    (2) For purposes of this subsection, the term--
            (A) ``agricultural resources intern'' means an Indian who--
                    (i) is attending an approved postsecondary school 
                in a full-time agriculture or related field, and
                    (ii) is appointed to one of the agricultural 
                resources intern positions established under paragraph 
                (1);
            (B) ``agricultural resources intern positions'' means 
        positions established pursuant to paragraph (1) for 
        agricultural resources interns; and
            (C) ``agriculture study program'' includes, but is not 
        limited to, agricultural engineering, agricultural economics, 
        animal husbandry, animal science, biological sciences, 
        geographic information systems, horticulture, range management, 
        soil science, and veterinary science.
    (3) The Secretary shall pay, by reimbursement or otherwise, all 
costs for tuition, books, fees, and living expenses incurred by an 
agricultural resources intern while attending an approved postsecondary 
or graduate school in a full-time agricultural study program.
    (4) An agricultural resources intern shall be required to enter 
into an obligated service agreement with the Secretary to serve as an 
employee in a professional agriculture or natural resources position 
with the Department of the Interior or other Federal agency or an 
Indian tribe for 1 year for each year of education for which the 
Secretary pays the intern's educational costs under paragraph (3) of 
this subsection.
    (5) An agricultural resources intern shall be required to report 
for service with the Bureau of Indian Affairs or other bureau or agency 
sponsoring his internship, or to a designated work site, during any 
break in attendance at school of more than 3 weeks duration. Time spent 
in such service shall be counted toward satisfaction of the intern's 
obligated service agreement under paragraph (4).
    (b) Cooperative Education Program.--(1) The Secretary shall 
maintain, through the Bureau, a cooperative education program for the 
purpose, among other things, of recruiting Indian students who are 
enrolled in secondary schools, tribally controlled community colleges, 
and other postsecondary or graduate schools, for employment in 
professional agricultural or natural resource related positions with 
the Bureau or other Federal agency providing Indian agricultural or 
natural resource related services.
    (2) The cooperative educational program under paragraph (1) shall 
be modeled after, and shall have essentially the same features as, the 
program in effect on the date of enactment of this Act pursuant to 
chapter 308 of the Federal Personnel Manual of the Office of Personnel 
Management.
    (3) The cooperative educational program shall include, among 
others, the following:
            (A) The Secretary shall continue the established specific 
        programs in agriculture and natural resources education at 
        Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI) and at Haskell 
        Indian Junior College.
            (B) The Secretary shall develop and maintain a cooperative 
        program with the tribally controlled community colleges to 
        coordinate course requirements, texts, and provide direct 
        technical assistance so that a significant portion of the 
        college credits in both the Haskell and Southwestern Indian 
        Polytechnic Institute programs can be met through local program 
        work at participating tribally controlled community colleges.
            (C) Working through tribally controlled community colleges 
        and in cooperation with land grant institutions, the Secretary 
        shall implement an informational and educational program to 
        provide practical training and assistance in creating or 
        maintaining a successful agricultural enterprise, assessing 
        sources of commercial credit, developing markets and other 
        subjects of interest to the rural community.
            (D) Working through tribally controlled community colleges 
        and in cooperation with land grant institutions, the Secretary 
        shall implement research activities to improve the basis for 
        determining appropriate management measures to apply to Indian 
        resource management.
    (4) Under the cooperative agreement program under paragraph (1), 
the Secretary shall pay, by reimbursement or otherwise, all costs for 
tuition, books, and fees of an Indian student who--
            (A) is enrolled in a course of study at an education 
        institution with which the Secretary has entered into a 
        cooperative agreement; and
            (B) is interested in a career with the Bureau, an Indian 
        tribe or a tribal enterprise in the management of Indian 
        rangelands, farmlands, or other natural resource assets.
    (5) A recipient of assistance under the cooperative education 
program under this subsection shall be required to enter into an 
obligated service agreement with the Secretary to serve as a 
professional in an agricultural natural resource related activity with 
the Bureau, or other Federal agency providing agricultural or natural 
resource related services to Indians or Indian tribes, or an Indian 
tribe for 1 year for each year for which the Secretary pays the 
recipients educational costs pursuant to paragraph (3).
    (c) Scholarship Program.--(1) The Secretary is authorized to grant 
scholarships to Indians enrolled in accredited agriculture related 
programs for postsecondary and graduate programs of study as full-time 
students.
    (2) A recipient of a scholarship under paragraph (1) shall be 
required to enter into an obligated service agreement with the 
Secretary in which the recipient agrees to accept employment for one 
year for each year the recipient received a scholarship, following 
completion of the recipients course of study, with--
            (A) the Bureau or other agency of the Federal Government 
        providing agriculture or natural resource related services to 
        Indians or Indian tribes;
            (B) an agriculture or natural resource program conducted 
        under a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement entered into 
        under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
        Act; or
            (C) a tribal agriculture or natural resource related 
        program.
    (3) The Secretary shall not deny scholarship assistance under this 
subsection solely on the basis of an applicant's scholastic achievement 
if the applicant has been admitted to and remains in good standing in 
an accredited post secondary or graduate institution.
    (d) Educational Outreach.--The Secretary shall conduct, through the 
Bureau, and in consultation with other appropriate local, State and 
Federal agencies, and in consultation and coordination with Indian 
tribes, an agricultural resource education outreach program for Indian 
youth to explain and stimulate interest in all aspects of management 
and careers in Indian agriculture and natural resources.
    (e) Adequacy of Programs.--The Secretary shall administer the 
programs described in this section until a sufficient number of Indians 
are trained to ensure that there is an adequate number of qualified, 
professional Indian natural resource managers to manage the Bureau 
natural resource programs and programs maintained by or for Indian 
tribes.

SEC. 202. POSTGRADUATION RECRUITMENT, EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS.

    (a) Assumption of Loans.--The Secretary shall establish and 
maintain a program to attract Indian professionals who are graduates of 
a course of postsecondary or graduate education for employment in 
either the Bureau agriculture or natural resource programs or, subject 
to the approval of the tribe, in tribal agriculture or natural resource 
programs. According to such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, 
such program shall provide for the employment of Indian professionals 
in exchange for the Secretary's assumption of the employee's 
outstanding student loans. The period of employment shall be determined 
by the amount of the loan that is assumed.
    (b) Postgraduate Intergovernmental Internships.--For the purposes 
of training, skill development and orientation of Indian and Federal 
natural resource management personnel, and the enhancement of tribal 
and Bureau natural resource programs, the Secretary shall establish and 
actively conduct a program for the cooperative internship of Federal 
and Indian natural resource personnel. Such program shall--
            (1) for agencies within the Department of the Interior--
                    (A) provide for the internship of Bureau and Indian 
                natural resource employees in the natural resource 
                related programs of other agencies of the Department of 
                the Interior, and
                    (B) provide for the internship of natural resource 
                personnel from the other Department of the Interior 
                agencies within the Bureau, and, with the consent of 
                the tribe, within tribal natural resource programs;
            (2) for agencies not within the Department of the Interior, 
        provide, pursuant to an interagency agreement, internships 
        within the Bureau and, with the consent of the tribe, within a 
        tribal natural resource program of other natural resource 
        personnel of such agencies who are above their sixth year of 
        Federal service;
            (3) provide for the continuation of salary and benefits for 
        participating Federal employees by their originating agency;
            (4) provide for salaries and benefits of participating 
        Indian natural resource employees by the host agency; and
            (5) provide for a bonus pay incentive at the conclusion of 
        the internship for any participant.
    (c) Continuing Education and Training.--The Secretary shall 
maintain a program within the Trust Services Division of the Bureau and 
Indian natural resource personnel which shall provide for--
            (1) orientation training for Bureau natural resource 
        personnel in tribal-Federal relations and responsibilities;
            (2) continuing technical natural resource education for 
        Bureau and Indian natural resource personnel; and
            (3) development training of Indian natural resource 
        personnel in natural resource based enterprises and marketing.

SEC. 203. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 
              AND INDIAN TRIBES.

    (a) Cooperative Agreements.--
            (1)(A) To facilitate the administration of the programs and 
        activities of the Department of the Interior, the Secretary is 
        authorized to negotiate and enter into cooperative agreements 
        with Indian tribes to--
                    (i) engage in cooperative manpower and job 
                training,
                    (ii) develop and publish cooperative environmental 
                education and natural resource planning materials, and
                    (iii) perform land and facility improvements, and 
                other activities related to land and natural resource 
                management and development.
            (B) The Secretary may enter into agreements when the 
        Secretary determines the interest of Indians and Indian tribes 
        will be benefited.
            (2) In cooperative agreements entered into under 
        subparagraph (A), the Secretary is authorized to advance or 
        reimburse funds to contractors from any appropriated funds 
        available for similar kinds of work or by furnishing or sharing 
        materials, supplies, facilities or equipment without regard to 
        the provisions of section 3324 of title 31, United States Code, 
        relating to the advance of public moneys.
    (b) Supervision.--In any agreement authorized by this section, 
Indian tribes and their employees may perform cooperative work under 
the supervision of the Department of the Interior in emergencies or 
otherwise as mutually agreed to, but shall not be deemed to be Federal 
employees other than for the purposes of sections 2671 through 2680 of 
title 28, United States Code, and sections 8101 through 8193 of title 
5, United States Code.
    (c) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to 
limit the authority of the Secretary to enter into cooperative 
agreements otherwise authorized by law.

SEC. 204. OBLIGATED SERVICE; BREACH OF CONTRACT.

    (a) Obligated Service.--Where an individual enters into an 
agreement for obligated service in return for financial assistance 
under any provision of this title, the Secretary shall adopt such 
regulations as are necessary to provide for the offer of employment to 
the recipient of such assistance as required by such provision. Where 
an offer of employment is not reasonably made, the regulations shall 
provide that such service shall no longer be required.
    (b) Breach of Contract; Repayment.--Where an individual fails to 
accept a reasonable offer of employment in fulfillment of such 
obligated service or unreasonably terminates or fails to perform the 
duties of such employment, the Secretary shall require a repayment of 
the financial assistance provided, prorated for the amount of time of 
obligated service that was performed, together with interest on such 
amount which would be payable if at the time the amounts were paid they 
were loans bearing interest at the maximum legal prevailing rate, as 
determined by the Treasurer of the United States.

                     TITLE III--GENERAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 301. REGULATIONS.

    Except as otherwise provided by this Act, the Secretary is directed 
to promulgate final regulations for the implementation within 18 months 
from the date of enactment of this Act. All regulations promulgated 
pursuant to this Act shall be developed by the Secretary with the 
participation of the affected Indian tribes.

SEC. 302. TRUST RESPONSIBILITY.

    Nothing in this Act shall be construed to diminish or expand the 
trust responsibility of the United States toward Indian trust lands or 
natural resources, or any legal obligation or remedy resulting 
therefrom.

SEC. 303. SEVERABILITY.

    If any provision of this Act, or the application of any provision 
of this Act to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the 
application of such provision or circumstance and the remainder of this 
Act shall not be affected thereby.

SEC. 304. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.

                                 <all>

HR 1425 IH----2
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