I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 6368 

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 

A BILL 

To assist Tribal governments in the management of buffalo 

and buffalo habitat and the reestablishment of buffalo 

on Indian land. 

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 Man5 agement Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 


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

2 animal of the genus: Bison, species: bison, sub3 species: bison. 

4 (2) BUFFALO HABITAT.—The term ‘‘buffalo 

5 habitat’’ means Indian land that is managed for buf6 falo. 

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

8 means the Department of the Interior. 

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

10 has the meaning given the term in paragraph (2) of 

11 section 2601 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (25 

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

13 term ‘‘Indian reservation’’ shall be considered to 

14 have the meaning given the term ‘‘Indian reserva15 tion’’ in paragraph (3) of that section, without re16 gard to the date specified in paragraph (3) of that 

17 section. 

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

19 has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the 

20 Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 

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

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

23 the Secretary of the Interior. 

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

25 organization’’ means a legally established organizaVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:56 Nov 22, 2023 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6368.IH H6368

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1 tion of Indians that is chartered under section 17 of 

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

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

4 demonstrable experience in the restoration of buffalo 

5 and buffalo habitat on Indian land. 

6 SEC. 3. BUFFALO RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. 

7 (a) PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.—The Secretary shall 

8 establish a program within the Department for the pur9 poses of— 

10 (1) promoting and developing the capacity of 

11 Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations to manage 

12 buffalo and buffalo habitat; 

13 (2) promoting the ability of Indian Tribes and 

14 Tribal organizations to protect, conserve, and en15 hance populations of buffalo that are owned by In16 dian Tribes or Tribal organizations; 

17 (3) promoting the development and use of buf18 falo and buffalo habitat for the maximum prac19 ticable benefit of Indian Tribes and Tribal organiza20 tions; and 

21 (4) promoting the inclusion of Indian Tribes 

22 and Tribal organizations in Department, inter23 national, national, regional, and local decision mak24 ing and forums regarding buffalo and buffalo habi25 tat. 


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1 (b) CONTRACTS AND GRANTS AUTHORIZED.— 

2 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall enter 

3 into contracts and cooperative agreements with, and 

4 award grants to, Indian Tribes and Tribal organiza5 tions to enable the Indian Tribes and Tribal organi6 zations to— 

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

8 restoration or management program; 

9 (B) plan and execute commercial activities 

10 related to buffalo or buffalo products; or 

11 (C) carry out other activities relating to 

12 buffalo restoration and management. 

13 (2) NO DIMINISHMENT OF LAWS AND REGULA14 TIONS.—Nothing in this subsection diminishes any 

15 Federal or State law (including regulations) regard16 ing diseased buffalo or buffalo that escape from In17 dian land. 

18 (c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall 

19 provide technical assistance to an Indian Tribe or Tribal 

20 organization that enters into a contract or cooperative 

21 agreement or receives a grant under this section to assist 

22 the Indian Tribe or Tribal organization in— 

23 (1) carrying out the activities of a buffalo or 

24 buffalo habitat restoration or management program; 

25 and 


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1 (2) implementing the activities described in sub2 paragraphs (A) through (C) of subsection (b)(1). 

3 (d) SUNSET.—The program established under this 

4 section shall terminate on September 30, 2030. 

5 SEC. 4. CONSULTATION; COORDINATION. 

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

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

8 thereafter, the Secretary shall consult with Indian Tribes 

9 and Tribal organizations on initiatives of the Department 

10 that affect buffalo or buffalo habitat, including efforts of 

11 the Department to contain or eradicate diseased buffalo. 

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

13 policy relating to buffalo and buffalo habitat management 

14 activities on Indian land, in accordance with— 

15 (1) the goals and objectives described in buffalo 

16 management programs approved by Indian Tribes; 

17 and 

18 (2) Tribal laws and ordinances. 

19 SEC. 5. PROTECTION OF INFORMATION. 

20 Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Sec21 retary shall not disclose or cause to be disclosed any infor22 mation provided to the Secretary by an Indian Tribe or 

23 Tribal organization that is identified by the Indian Tribe 

24 or Tribal organization as culturally sensitive, proprietary, 

25 or otherwise confidential. 


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1 SEC. 6. BUFFALO FROM FEDERAL LAND. 

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

3 agreement with an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization to 

4 dispose of surplus buffalo on Federal land administered 

5 by the Department, as applicable, by transporting such 

6 buffalo onto Indian land. 

7 (b) APPLICATION.—An Indian Tribe or Tribal orga8 nization may submit to the Secretary an application to re9 ceive buffalo described in subsection (a) at such time, in 

10 such manner, and containing such information as the Sec11 retary may require. 

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

13 any charges for the buffalo described in subsection (a), 

14 including any deposit or payment for services as described 

15 in section 10.2 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations 

16 (or any successor regulation). 

17 SEC. 7. TREATY RIGHTS RETAINED. 

18 Nothing in this Act alters, modifies, diminishes, or 

19 extinguishes the treaty rights of any Indian Tribe. 

Æ 


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