IB 

Union Calendar No. 465 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 6368 

[Report No. 118–563] 

To assist Tribal governments in the management of buffalo and buffalo 

habitat and the reestablishment of buffalo on Indian land. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 13, 2023 

Mr. LAMALFA (for himself, Mrs. PELTOLA, Mrs. TORRES of California, Mr. 

COLE, and Mr. OBERNOLTE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 

JUNE 27, 2024 

Additional sponsors: Ms. Leger Fernandez and Ms. Davids of Kansas 

JUNE 27, 2024 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 

House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on November 13, 2023] 


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A BILL 

To assist Tribal governments in the management of buffalo 

and buffalo habitat and the reestablishment of buffalo 

on Indian land. 


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1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Indian Buffalo Manage5 ment Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 

8 (1) BUFFALO.—The term ‘‘buffalo’’ means an 

9 animal of the genus: Bison, species: bison, subspecies: 

10 bison. 

11 (2) BUFFALO HABITAT.—The term ‘‘buffalo habi12 tat’’ means Indian land that is managed for buffalo. 

13 (3) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ 

14 means the Department of the Interior. 

15 (4) INDIAN LAND.—The term ‘‘Indian land’’ has 

16 the meaning given the term in paragraph (2) of sec17 tion 2601 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (25 

18 U.S.C. 3501), except that, in that paragraph, the 

19 term ‘‘Indian reservation’’ shall be considered to have 

20 the meaning given the term ‘‘Indian reservation’’ in 

21 paragraph (3) of that section, without regard to the 

22 date specified in paragraph (3) of that section. 

23 (5) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 

24 has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the InVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:21 Jun 28, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H6368.RH H6368

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1 dian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 

2 Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 

3 (6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

4 the Secretary of the Interior. 

5 (7) TRIBAL ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘Tribal 

6 organization’’ means any legally established organiza7 tion of Indians that— 

8 (A)(i) is chartered under section 17 of the 

9 Act of June 18, 1934, (commonly known as the 

10 ‘‘Indian Reorganization Act’’; 25 U.S.C. 5124) 

11 and recognized by the governing body of one or 

12 more Indian Tribes; or 

13 (ii) is a Tribal corporation federally char14 tered under section 3 of the Oklahoma Indian 

15 Welfare Act (25 U.S.C. 5203); and 

16 (B) has demonstrable experience in the res17 toration of buffalo and buffalo habitat on Indian 

18 land. 

19 SEC. 3. BUFFALO RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. 

20 (a) PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.—The Secretary shall es21 tablish a program within the Department for the purposes 

22 of— 

23 (1) promoting and developing the capacity of In24 dian Tribes and Tribal organizations to manage buf25 falo and buffalo habitat; 


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1 (2) promoting the ability of Indian Tribes and 

2 Tribal organizations to protect, conserve, and enhance 

3 populations of buffalo that are owned by Indian 

4 Tribes or Tribal organizations; 

5 (3) promoting the development and use of buffalo 

6 and buffalo habitat for the maximum practicable ben7 efit of Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations; and 

8 (4) promoting the inclusion of Indian Tribes and 

9 Tribal organizations in Department, international, 

10 national, regional, and local decision making and fo11 rums regarding buffalo and buffalo habitat. 

12 (b) CONTRACTS AND GRANTS AUTHORIZED.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall enter into 

14 contracts and cooperative agreements with, and 

15 award grants to, Indian Tribes and Tribal organiza16 tions to enable the Indian Tribes and Tribal organi17 zations to— 

18 (A) plan, conduct, or implement a buffalo 

19 restoration or management program; 

20 (B) plan and execute commercial activities 

21 related to buffalo or buffalo products; or 

22 (C) carry out other activities relating to 

23 buffalo restoration and management. 

24 (2) NO DIMINISHMENT OF LAWS AND REGULA25 TIONS.—Nothing in this subsection diminishes any 


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1 Federal or State law (including regulations) regard2 ing diseased buffalo or buffalo that escape from In3 dian land. 

4 (c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall 

5 provide technical assistance to an Indian Tribe or Tribal 

6 organization that enters into a contract or cooperative 

7 agreement or receives a grant under this section to assist 

8 the Indian Tribe or Tribal organization in— 

9 (1) carrying out the activities of a buffalo or buf10 falo habitat restoration or management program; and 

11 (2) implementing the activities described in sub12 paragraphs (A) through (C) of subsection (b)(1). 

13 (d) SUNSET.—The program established under this sec14 tion shall terminate on September 30, 2030. 

15 SEC. 4. CONSULTATION; COORDINATION. 

16 (a) CONSULTATION.—Not later than 1 year after the 

17 date of enactment of this Act, and on an ongoing basis 

18 thereafter, the Secretary shall consult with Indian Tribes 

19 and Tribal organizations on initiatives of the Department 

20 that affect buffalo or buffalo habitat, including efforts of the 

21 Department to contain or eradicate diseased buffalo. 

22 (b) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall develop a 

23 policy relating to buffalo and buffalo habitat management 

24 activities on Indian land, in accordance with— 


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1 (1) the goals and objectives described in buffalo 

2 management programs approved by Indian Tribes; 

3 and 

4 (2) Tribal laws and ordinances. 

5 SEC. 5. PROTECTION OF INFORMATION. 

6 Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Sec7 retary shall not disclose or cause to be disclosed any infor8 mation provided to the Secretary by an Indian Tribe or 

9 Tribal organization that is identified by the Indian Tribe 

10 or Tribal organization as culturally sensitive, proprietary, 

11 or otherwise confidential. 

12 SEC. 6. BUFFALO FROM FEDERAL LAND. 

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may enter into an 

14 agreement with an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization to 

15 dispose of surplus buffalo on Federal land administered by 

16 the Department, as applicable, by transporting such buffalo 

17 onto Indian land. 

18 (b) APPLICATION.—An Indian Tribe or Tribal organi19 zation may submit to the Secretary an application to re20 ceive buffalo described in subsection (a) at such time, in 

21 such manner, and containing such information as the Sec22 retary may require. 

23 (c) WAIVER OF CHARGES.—The Secretary may waive 

24 any charges for the buffalo described in subsection (a), in25 cluding any deposit or payment for services as described 


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1 in section 10.2 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or 

2 any successor regulation). 

3 SEC. 7. TREATY RIGHTS RETAINED. 

4 Nothing in this Act alters, modifies, diminishes, or ex5 tinguishes the treaty rights of any Indian Tribe. 


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Union Calendar No. 465 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 6368 

[Report No. 118–563] 

A BILL 

To assist Tribal governments in the management of 

ment of buffalo on Indian land. buffalo and buffalo habitat and the reestablishJUNE 27, 2024 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Comand ordered to be printed mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 


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