I 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 6097 

To facilitate contacts and cooperation, including commercial relationships, 

between Native American Tribes and Indigenous peoples in the Western 

Hemisphere, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 30, 2021 

Mrs. TORRES of California (for herself and Mr. HIMES) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and 

in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be 

subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 

of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To facilitate contacts and cooperation, including commercial 

relationships, between Native American Tribes and Indigenous peoples in the Western Hemisphere, and for other 

purposes. 

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 ‘‘Indigenous Peoples 

5 Exchange and Economic Cooperation Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 

2 It is the policy of the United States to facilitate con3 tacts and cooperation, including commercial relationships, 

4 between Native American Tribes and Indigenous peoples 

5 in the Western Hemisphere, in accordance with regional 

6 trade agreements and the Presidential memorandum titled 

7 ‘‘Memorandum on Tribal Consultation and Strengthening 

8 Nation-to-Nation Relationships’’, dated January 26, 

9 2021, which directs executive branches to engage in ‘‘reg10 ular, meaningful, and robust consultation with Tribal offi11 cials’’. 

12 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

13 In this Act: 

14 (1) NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES.—The term 

15 ‘‘Native American Tribe’’ means any federally recog16 nized Tribe. 

17 (2) INDIGENOUS PEOPLES.—The term ‘‘Indige18 nous peoples’’ means peoples residing in foreign 

19 countries and territories in the Western Hemisphere 

20 who have historical ties to a particular territory and 

21 are culturally or historically distinct from the politi22 cally dominant population. 

23 SEC. 4. STRATEGY. 

24 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 

25 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Com26 merce, in coordination with the Secretary of Interior, shall 


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1 submit to the appropriate congressional committees a 

2 strategy, in consultation with the individuals listed in sub3 section (b), to promote and facilitate— 

4 (1) cross-investments and export opportunities 

5 between Native American Tribes and Indigenous 

6 peoples in Tribal businesses and commercial enter7 prises that involve Indigenous peoples, such as sus8 tainable natural resource management, agricultural 

9 development, timber, fish and other seafood, energy, 

10 handicraft and art production, or entrepreneurship 

11 for economic growth and diversification; and 

12 (2) the development of supply chains for United 

13 States entities that include certified products pro14 duced by Native American Tribes and Indigenous 

15 peoples. 

16 (b) CONSULTATION REQUIRED.—The individuals re17 ferred to in subsection (a) are the following: 

18 (1) The President of the Inter-American Foun19 dation. 

20 (2) The Secretary of State. 

21 (3) The United States Trade Representative. 

22 (4) The Secretary of Agriculture. 

23 (5) The Secretary of Energy. 

24 (6) The Administrator of the Small Business 

25 Administration. 


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1 (7) The Administrator and the Advisor for In2 digenous Peoples Issues of the United States Agency 

3 for International Development. 

4 (8) The Chief Executive Officer of the United 

5 States International Development Finance Corpora6 tion. 

7 (9) The Chief Executive Officer of the Millen8 nium Challenge Corporation. 

9 (10) Representatives of Native American 

10 Tribes. 

11 (11) Representatives of civil society organiza12 tions advocating for the rights or interests of Indige13 nous peoples. 

14 (c) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.— 

15 In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional com16 mittees’’ means— 

17 (1) the Committee on Appropriations, the Com18 mittee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on 

19 Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; 

20 and 

21 (2) the Committee on Appropriations, the Com22 mittee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on En23 ergy and Natural Resources, and the Committee on 

24 Indian Affairs of the Senate. 


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1 SEC. 5. UNITED STATES ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT INDIGE2 NOUS PEOPLES. 

3 In order to improve the capacity of Indigenous peo4 ples to engage in and benefit from increased trade and 

5 investment relationships, the Inter-American Foundation, 

6 Secretary of State, United States Agency for International 

7 Development, and Millennium Challenge Corporation 

8 shall— 

9 (1) consult with representatives of civil society 

10 organizations, especially organizations comprised of 

11 or representing the interests of Indigenous peoples; 

12 and 

13 (2) provide assistance to countries in the West14 ern Hemisphere in a manner that promotes and fa15 cilitates entrepreneurship among Indigenous peo16 ples— 

17 (A) by strengthening the capacity of civil 

18 society organizations and local governments; 

19 and 

20 (B) by supporting community-led and com21 munity-based projects including sustainable 

22 natural resource management, agricultural de23 velopment, and handicraft production. 


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1 SEC. 6. ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT ACTIVITIES. 

2 There is authorized to be appropriated to the Sec3 retary of Commerce $3,000,000 to carry out this Act. 

Æ 


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