I 
119TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7325 
To establish the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School 
Policies in the United States, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 3, 2026 
Mr. COLE (for himself and Ms. DAVIDS of Kansas) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, 
and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to 
be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
A BILL 
To establish the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian 
Boarding School Policies in the United States, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding 
School Policies Act of 2026’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
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Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Purposes. 
Sec. 3. Definitions. 
TITLE I—COMMISSION AND SUBCOMMITTEE 
Subtitle A—Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School 
Policies in the United States 
Sec. 101. Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies 
in the United States. 
Subtitle B—Duties of the Commission 
Sec. 111. Duties of the Commission. 
Subtitle C—Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee 
Sec. 121. Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee. 
TITLE II—ADVISORY COMMITTEES 
Subtitle A—Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee 
Sec. 201. Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee. 
Subtitle B—Federal and Religious Truth and Healing Advisory Committee 
Sec. 211. Federal and Religious Truth and Healing Advisory Committee. 
TITLE III—GENERAL PROVISIONS 
Sec. 301. Clarification. 
Sec. 302. Burial management. 
Sec. 303. Co-stewardship agreements. 
Sec. 304. No right of action. 
SEC. 2. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this Act are— 
(1) to establish a Truth and Healing Commis-
sion on Indian Boarding School Policies in the 
United States, including other necessary advisory 
committees and subcommittees; 
(2) to formally investigate, document, and re-
port on the histories of Indian Boarding Schools, In-
dian Boarding School Polices, and the systematic 
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and long-term effects of those schools and policies 
on Native American peoples; 
(3) to develop recommendations for Federal ef-
forts based on the findings of the Commission; and 
(4) to promote healing for survivors of Indian 
Boarding Schools, the descendants of those sur-
vivors, and the communities of those survivors. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 
means the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian 
Boarding School Policies in the United States estab-
lished by section 101(a). 
(2) FEDERAL
AND
RELIGIOUS
TRUTH
AND 
HEALING ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—The term ‘‘Fed-
eral and Religious Truth and Healing Advisory 
Committee’’ means the Federal and Religious Truth 
and Healing Advisory Committee established by sec-
tion 211(a). 
(3) INDIAN.—The term ‘‘Indian’’ has the mean-
ing given the term in section 6151 of the Elemen-
tary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 7491). 
(4) INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOL.—The term ‘‘In-
dian Boarding School’’ means— 
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(A) a site of an institution that— 
(i) provided on-site housing or over-
night lodging; 
(ii) was described in Federal records 
as providing formal academic or vocational 
training and instruction to Native Ameri-
cans; 
(iii) received Federal funds or other 
Federal support; and 
(iv) was operational before 1969; 
(B) a site of an institution identified by 
the Department of the Interior in appendices A 
and B of the report entitled ‘‘Federal Indian 
Boarding School Initiative Investigative Re-
port’’ and dated May 2022 (or a successor re-
port); or 
(C) any other institution that implemented 
Indian Boarding School Policies, including an 
Indian day school. 
(5) INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOL POLICIES.—The 
term ‘‘Indian Boarding School Policies’’ means Fed-
eral laws, policies, and practices purported to ‘‘as-
similate’’ and ‘‘civilize’’ Native Americans that in-
cluded psychological, physical, sexual, and mental 
abuse, forced removal from home or community, and 
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identity-altering practices intended to terminate Na-
tive languages, cultures, religions, social organiza-
tions, or connections to traditional land. 
(6) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
(7) NATIVE
AMERICAN.—The term ‘‘Native 
American’’ means an individual who is— 
(A) an Indian; or 
(B) a Native Hawaiian. 
(8) NATIVE AMERICAN TRUTH AND HEALING 
ADVISORY
COMMITTEE.—The term ‘‘Native Amer-
ican Truth and Healing Advisory Committee’’ means 
the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory 
Committee established by the Commission under sec-
tion 201(a). 
(9) NATIVE HAWAIIAN.—The term ‘‘Native Ha-
waiian’’ has the meaning given the term in section 
6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7517). 
(10) NATIVE
HAWAIIAN
ORGANIZATION.—The 
term ‘‘Native Hawaiian organization’’ means a pri-
vate nonprofit organization that— 
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(A) serves and represents the interests of 
Native Hawaiians; 
(B) has as its primary and stated purpose 
the provision of services to Native Hawaiians; 
(C) has Native Hawaiians serving in sub-
stantive and policymaking positions; and 
(D) has expertise in Native Hawaiian af-
fairs. 
(11) OFFICE
OF
HAWAIIAN
AFFAIRS.—The 
term ‘‘Office of Hawaiian Affairs’’ has the meaning 
given the term in section 6207 of the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
7517). 
(12) SURVIVORS
TRUTH
AND
HEALING
SUB-
COMMITTEE.—The term ‘‘Survivors Truth and Heal-
ing Subcommittee’’ means the Survivors Truth and 
Healing Subcommittee established by section 121(a). 
(13) TRAUMA-INFORMED
CARE.—The term 
‘‘trauma-informed care’’ means holistic psychological 
and health care practices that include promoting cul-
turally responsive practices, patient psychological, 
physical, and emotional safety, and environments of 
healing, trust, peer support, and recovery. 
(14) TRIBAL ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘Trib-
al organization’’ has the meaning given the term in 
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section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Edu-
cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
TITLE I—COMMISSION AND 
SUBCOMMITTEE 
Subtitle 
A—Truth 
and 
Healing 
Commission on Indian Boarding 
School Policies in the United 
States 
SEC. 101. TRUTH AND HEALING COMMISSION ON INDIAN 
BOARDING SCHOOL POLICIES IN THE UNITED 
STATES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
legislative branch a commission, to be known as the 
‘‘Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding 
School Policies in the United States’’. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) APPOINTMENT.—Nominees submitted under 
paragraph (2)(A) shall be appointed as members to 
the Commission as follows: 
(A) 1 member shall be appointed by the 
majority leader of the Senate, in consultation 
with the Chairperson of the Committee on In-
dian Affairs of the Senate. 
(B) 1 member shall be appointed by the 
minority leader of the Senate, in consultation 
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with the Vice Chairperson of the Committee on 
Indian Affairs of the Senate. 
(C) 1 member shall be appointed by the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives, in 
consultation with the Chair of the Committee 
on Natural Resources of the House of Rep-
resentatives. 
(D) 1 member shall be appointed by the 
minority leader of the House of Representa-
tives, in consultation with the Ranking Member 
of the Committee on Natural Resources of the 
House of Representatives. 
(E) 1 member shall be jointly appointed by 
the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the 
Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate. 
(2) NOMINATIONS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, In-
dian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Amer-
icans, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Na-
tive Hawaiian organizations may submit to the 
Secretary of the Interior nominations for indi-
viduals to be appointed as members of the Com-
mission. 
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(B) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—Not later 
than 7 days after the submission deadline for 
nominations described in subparagraph (A), the 
Secretary of the Interior shall submit to Con-
gress a list of the individuals nominated under 
that subparagraph. 
(C) QUALIFICATIONS.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—Nominees to serve 
on the Commission shall have significant 
experience in matters relating to— 
(I) overseeing or leading complex 
research initiatives with and for In-
dian Tribes and Native Americans; 
(II) indigenous human rights law 
and policy; 
(III) Tribal court judicial and re-
storative justice systems and Federal 
agencies, such as participation as a 
Tribal judge, researcher, or former 
presidentially appointed commissioner; 
(IV) providing and coordinating 
trauma-informed 
care 
and 
other 
health-related 
services 
to 
Indian 
Tribes and Native Americans; or 
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(V) traditional and cultural re-
sources and practices in Native com-
munities. 
(ii) ADDITIONAL
QUALIFICATIONS.— 
In addition to the qualifications described 
in clause (i), each member of the Commis-
sion shall be an individual of recognized in-
tegrity and empathy, with a demonstrated 
commitment to the values of truth, rec-
onciliation, healing, and expertise in truth 
and healing endeavors that are tradition-
ally and culturally appropriate so as to 
provide balanced points of view and exper-
tise with respect to the duties of the Com-
mission. 
(3) DATE.—Members of the Commission under 
paragraph (1) shall be appointed not later than 180 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(4) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES; RE-
MOVAL.— 
(A) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT.—A mem-
ber of the Commission shall be appointed for a 
term that is the shorter of— 
(i) 6 years; and 
(ii) the life of the Commission. 
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(B) VACANCIES.—After all initial members 
of the Commission are appointed and the initial 
business meeting of the Commission has been 
convened under subsection (c)(1), a single va-
cancy in the Commission— 
(i) shall not affect the powers of the 
Commission; and 
(ii) shall be filled within 90 days in 
the same manner as was the original ap-
pointment. 
(C) REMOVAL.—A quorum of members of 
the Commission may remove a member of the 
Commission only for neglect of duty or malfea-
sance. 
(5) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall ter-
minate 6 years after the date of the enactment of 
this Act. 
(6) LIMITATION.—No member of the Commis-
sion may otherwise be an officer or employee of the 
Federal Government. 
(c) BUSINESS MEETINGS.— 
(1) INITIAL BUSINESS MEETING.—90 days after 
the date on which all of the members of the Com-
mission are appointed under subsection (b)(1)(A), 
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mittee, as appointed in accordance with section 
121(c)(1)(D), section 201(e)(1)(C), and section 
211(c)(1)(B), as applicable. 
(4) FORMAT OF MEETINGS.—A business meet-
ing of the Commission may be conducted in-person 
or virtually. 
(5) QUORUM REQUIRED.—A business meeting 
of the Commission may be held only after a quorum, 
established in accordance with subsection (d), is 
present. 
(d) QUORUM.—A simple majority of the members of 
the Commission shall constitute a quorum for a business 
meeting. 
(e) RULES.—The Commission may establish, by a 
majority vote, any rules for the conduct of Commission 
business, in accordance with this section and other appli-
cable law. 
(f) COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.— 
(1) COMPENSATION
OF
COMMISSIONERS.—A 
member of the Commission shall be compensated at 
a daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay 
prescribed for grade 5 of the General Schedule 
under section 5332 of title 5, United States Code, 
for each day, not to exceed 10 days per month, for 
which a member is engaged in the performance of 
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their duties under this Act, limited to convening 
meetings, including public or private meetings to re-
ceive testimony in furtherance of the duties of the 
Commission and the purposes of this Act. 
(2) TRAVEL
EXPENSES.—A member of the 
Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, includ-
ing per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates author-
ized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of 
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while 
away from their homes or regular places of business 
in the performance of services for the Commission. 
(3) DETAIL
OF
GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES.— 
Any Federal Government employee, with the ap-
proval of the head of the appropriate Federal agency 
and at the request of the Commission, may be de-
tailed to the Commission without— 
(A) reimbursement to the agency of that 
employee; and 
(B) interruption or loss of civil service sta-
tus, benefits, or privileges. 
(g) POWERS OF COMMISSION.— 
(1) CONVENINGS
AND
INFORMATION.—The 
Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out 
this Act— 
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(A) hold such convenings and sit and act 
at such times and places, take such testimony, 
and receive such information, virtually or in- 
person, as the Commission may determine nec-
essary to accomplish the purposes of this Act; 
(B) conduct or request such interdiscipli-
nary research, investigation, or analysis of such 
information and documents, records, or other 
data as the Commission may determine nec-
essary to accomplish the purposes of this Act, 
including— 
(i) securing, directly from a Federal 
agency, such information as the Commis-
sion considers necessary to accomplish the 
purposes of this Act; and 
(ii) requesting the head of any rel-
evant Tribal or State agency to provide to 
the Commission such information as the 
Commission considers necessary to accom-
plish the purposes of this Act; 
(C) request such records, papers, cor-
respondence, memoranda, documents, books, 
videos, oral histories, recordings, or any other 
paper or electronic material, as the Commission 
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may determine necessary to accomplish the pur-
poses of this Act; 
(D) oversee, direct, and collaborate with 
the Federal and Religious Truth and Healing 
Advisory Committee, the Native American 
Truth and Healing Advisory Committee, and 
the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee 
to accomplish the purposes of this Act; and 
(E) coordinate with Federal and non-Fed-
eral entities to preserve and archive, as appro-
priate, any gifts, documents, or other property 
received while carrying out the purposes of this 
Act. 
(2) CONTRACTING; VOLUNTEER SERVICES.— 
(A) 
CONTRACTING.—The 
Commission 
may, to such extent and in such amounts as are 
provided in appropriations Acts, and in accord-
ance with applicable law, enter into contracts 
and other agreements with public agencies, pri-
vate organizations, and individuals to enable the 
Commission to carry out the duties of the Com-
mission under this Act. 
(B) VOLUNTEER
AND
UNCOMPENSATED 
SERVICES.—Notwithstanding section 1342 of 
title 31, United States Code, the Commission 
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may accept and use such voluntary and uncom-
pensated services as the Commission determines 
to be necessary. 
(C) 
GENERAL
SERVICES
ADMINISTRA-
TION.—The Administrator of General Services 
shall provide, on request of the Commission, on 
a reimbursable basis, administrative support 
and other services for the performance of the 
functions of the Commission under this Act. 
(3) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Commission may 
use the United States mails in the same manner and 
under the same conditions as other agencies of the 
Federal Government. 
(4) GIFTS, 
FUNDRAISING, 
AND
DISBURSE-
MENT.— 
(A) GIFTS AND DONATIONS.— 
(i) IN
GENERAL.—The Commission 
may accept, use, and dispose of any gift, 
donation, service, property, or other record 
or recording to accomplish the purposes of 
this Act. 
(ii) RETURN
OF
GIFTS
AND
DONA-
TIONS.—On termination of the Commis-
sion under subsection (b)(5), any gifts, 
unspent donations, property, or other 
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record or recording accepted by the Com-
mission under clause (i) shall be— 
(I) returned to the donor that 
made the donation under that clause; 
or 
(II) archived under subparagraph 
(E). 
(B) FUNDRAISING.—The Commission may, 
on the affirmative vote of 3⁄5 of the members of 
the Commission, solicit funds to accomplish the 
purposes of this Act. 
(C) 
DISBURSEMENT.—The 
Commission 
may, on the affirmative vote of 3⁄5 of the mem-
bers of the Commission, approve a spending 
plan of funds to accomplish the purposes of this 
Act. 
(D) TAX
DOCUMENTS.—The Commission 
(or a designee) shall, on request of a donor 
under subparagraph (A) or (B), provide tax 
documentation to that donor for any tax-de-
ductible gift made by that donor under those 
subparagraphs. 
(E) ARCHIVING.—The Commission shall 
coordinate with the Library of Congress and 
the Smithsonian Institution to archive and pre-
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tendance at a meeting of the Commission, the 
rules, protocols, and formats for convenings es-
tablished under that subparagraph. 
(2) ANNOUNCEMENT
OF
CONVENINGS.—Not 
later than 30 days before the date of a convening 
under this subsection, the Commission shall an-
nounce the location and details of the convening. 
(3) MINIMUM NUMBER OF CONVENINGS.—The 
Commission shall hold— 
(A) not fewer than 1 convening in each of 
the 12 regions of the Bureau of Indian Affairs 
and in Hawai‘i during the life of the Commis-
sion; and 
(B) beginning 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, not fewer than 1 con-
vening in each quarter to receive testimony each 
calendar year until the date on which the Com-
mission submits the final report of the Commis-
sion under section 111(e)(3). 
(4) OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY.— 
No person or entity shall be denied the opportunity 
to provide relevant testimony or information at a 
convening held under this subsection, except at the 
discretion of the Chairperson of the Commission (or 
a designee). 
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(i) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT APPLICA-
BILITY.—Chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code (com-
monly known as the ‘‘Federal Advisory Committee Act’’), 
shall not apply to the Commission. 
(j) CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACT APPLICA-
BILITY.—For purposes of the Congressional Account-
ability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.)— 
(1) any individual who is an employee of the 
Commission shall be considered a covered employee 
under the Act; 
(2) the Commission shall be considered an em-
ploying office under the Act; and 
(3) a member of the Commission shall be con-
sidered a covered employee under the Act. 
(k) CONSULTATION OR ENGAGEMENT WITH NATIVE 
AMERICANS, INDIAN TRIBES, TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS, 
THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS, AND NATIVE HA-
WAIIAN ORGANIZATIONS.—In carrying out the duties of 
the Commission under section 111, the Commission shall 
meaningfully consult or engage, as appropriate, in a timely 
manner with Native Americans, Indian Tribes, Tribal or-
ganizations, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Native 
Hawaiian organizations. 
(l) FUNDING.—Of the amounts authorized to be ap-
propriated pursuant to section 105 of the Indian Land 
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Consolidation Act Amendments of 2000 (25 U.S.C. 2201 
note; Public Law 106–462) and section 403 of the Indian 
Financing Act of 1974 (25 U.S.C. 1523), $90,000,000 
shall be used to carry out this Act. 
Subtitle B—Duties of the 
Commission 
SEC. 111. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) INVESTIGATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall con-
duct a comprehensive interdisciplinary investigation 
of Indian Boarding School Policies, including the so-
cial, cultural, economic, emotional, and physical ef-
fects of Indian Boarding School Policies in the 
United States on Native American communities, In-
dian Tribes, survivors of Indian Boarding Schools, 
families of those survivors, and their descendants. 
(2) MATTERS TO BE INVESTIGATED.—The mat-
ters to be investigated by the Commission under 
paragraph (1) shall include, at a minimum— 
(A) conducting a comprehensive review of 
existing research and historical records of In-
dian Boarding School Policies and any docu-
mentation, scholarship, or other resources rel-
evant to the purposes of this Act from— 
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(i) any archive or any other document 
storage location, notwithstanding the loca-
tion of that archive or document storage 
location; and 
(ii) any research conducted by private 
individuals, private entities, and non-Fed-
eral Government entities, whether domestic 
or foreign, including religious institutions; 
(B) collaborating with the Federal and Re-
ligious Truth and Healing Advisory Committee 
to obtain all relevant information from— 
(i) the Department of the Interior, the 
Department of Health and Human Serv-
ices, other relevant Federal agencies, and 
institutions or organizations, including reli-
gious institutions or organizations, that op-
erated an Indian Boarding School, carried 
out Indian Boarding School Policies, or 
have information that the Commission de-
termines to be relevant to the investigation 
of the Commission; and 
(ii) Indian Tribes, Tribal organiza-
tions, Native Americans, the Office of Ha-
waiian Affairs, and Native Hawaiian orga-
nizations; and 
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(C) conducting a comprehensive assess-
ment of the impacts of Indian Boarding School 
Policies on Native American students and alum-
ni, including the impact on cultures, traditions, 
and languages. 
(3) RESEARCH
RELATED
TO
OBJECTS, ARTI-
FACTS, AND REAL PROPERTY.—If the Commission 
conducts a comprehensive review of research de-
scribed in paragraph (2)(A)(ii) that focuses on ob-
jects, artifacts, or real or personal property that are 
in the possession or control of private individuals, 
private entities, or non-Federal Government entities 
within the United States, the Commission may enter 
into a contract or agreement to acquire, hold, cu-
rate, or maintain those objects, artifacts, or real or 
personal property until the objects, artifacts, or real 
or personal property can be properly repatriated or 
returned, consistent with applicable Federal law, 
subject to the condition that no Federal funds may 
be used to purchase those objects, artifacts, or real 
or personal property. 
(b) MEETINGS AND CONVENINGS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall hold, 
with the advice of the Native American Truth and 
Healing Advisory Committee and the Survivors 
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Truth and Healing Subcommittee, and in coordina-
tion with, as relevant, Indian Tribes, Tribal organi-
zations, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Native 
Hawaiian organizations, as part of its investigation 
under subsection (a), safe, trauma-informed, and 
culturally appropriate public or private meetings or 
convenings to receive testimony relating to that in-
vestigation. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The Commission shall 
ensure that meetings and convenings held under 
paragraph (1) provide access to adequate trauma-in-
formed care services for participants, attendees, and 
communities during and following the meetings and 
convenings where the Commission receives testi-
mony, including ensuring that private space is avail-
able for survivors and descendants of survivors, fam-
ily members, and other community members to re-
ceive trauma-informed care services. 
(c) RECOMMENDATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall make 
recommendations to Congress relating to the inves-
tigation carried out under subsection (a), which shall 
be included in the final report required under sub-
section (e)(3). 
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(2) 
INCLUSIONS.—Recommendations 
made 
under paragraph (1) shall include, at a minimum, 
recommendations relating to— 
(A) in light of Tribal and Native Hawaiian 
law, Tribal customary law, tradition, custom, 
and practice, how the Federal Government can 
meaningfully acknowledge the role of the Fed-
eral Government in supporting Indian Boarding 
School Policies in all issue areas that the Com-
mission determines relevant, including appro-
priate forms of memorialization, preservation of 
records, objects, artifacts, and burials; 
(B) how modification of existing statutes, 
procedures, regulations, policies, budgets, and 
practices will, in the determination of the Com-
mission, address the findings of the Commission 
and ongoing effects of Indian Boarding School 
Policies; 
(C) how the Federal Government can pro-
mote public awareness of, and education about, 
Indian Boarding School Policies and the im-
pacts of those policies, including through co-
ordinating with the Native American Truth and 
Healing Advisory Committee, the Survivors 
Truth and Healing Subcommittee, the Smithso-
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nian Institution, and other relevant institutions 
and organizations; and 
(D) the views of religious institutions. 
(d) DUTIES RELATED TO BURIALS.—The Commis-
sion shall, with respect to burial sites associated with In-
dian Boarding Schools— 
(1) coordinate, as appropriate, with the Native 
American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee, 
the Federal and Religious Truth and Healing Advi-
sory Committee, the Survivors Truth and Healing 
Subcommittee, lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, the 
Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Federal agencies, institu-
tions, and organizations to locate and identify, in a 
culturally appropriate manner, marked and un-
marked burial sites, including cemeteries, unmarked 
graves, and mass burial sites, where students of In-
dian Boarding Schools were originally or later in-
terred; 
(2) locate, document, analyze, and coordinate 
the preservation or continued preservation of records 
and information relating to the interment of stu-
dents, including any records held by Federal, State, 
international, or local entities or religious institu-
tions or organizations; and 
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(3) share, to the extent practicable, with af-
fected lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, and the Of-
fice of Hawaiian Affairs burial locations and the 
identities of children who attended Indian Boarding 
Schools. 
(e) REPORTS.— 
(1) ANNUAL REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Not less 
frequently than annually until the year before the 
year in which the Commission terminates, the Com-
mission shall submit to the Committee on Indian Af-
fairs of the Senate and the Committee on Natural 
Resources of the House of Representatives a report 
that describes the activities of the Commission dur-
ing the previous year, including an accounting of 
funds and gifts received and expenditures made, the 
progress made, and any barriers encountered in car-
rying out this Act. 
(2) COMMISSION INITIAL REPORT.—Not later 
than 4 years after the date on which a majority of 
the members of the Commission are appointed under 
section 101(b)(1), the Commission shall submit to 
the individuals described in paragraph (4), and 
make publicly available, an initial report con-
taining— 
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(A) a detailed review of existing research, 
including documentation, scholarship, or other 
resources shared with the Commission that fur-
ther the purposes of this Act; 
(B) a detailed statement of the initial find-
ings and conclusions of the Commission; and 
(C) a detailed statement of the initial rec-
ommendations of the Commission. 
(3) COMMISSION
FINAL
REPORT.—Before the 
termination of the Commission, the Commission 
shall submit to the individuals described in para-
graph (4), and make publicly available, a final report 
containing the findings, conclusions, and rec-
ommendations of the Commission that have been 
agreed on by the vote of a majority of the members 
of the Commission and 3⁄5 of the members of each 
of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory 
Committee and the Survivors Truth and Healing 
Subcommittee. 
(4) REPORT RECIPIENTS.—The individuals re-
ferred to in paragraphs (2) and (3) are— 
(A) the President; 
(B) the Secretary of the Interior; 
(C) the Attorney General; 
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(D) the Comptroller General of the United 
States; 
(E) the Secretary of Education; 
(F) the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services; 
(G) the Secretary of Defense; 
(H) the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson 
of the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Sen-
ate; 
(I) the Chairperson and ranking minority 
member of the Committee on Natural Re-
sources of the House of Representatives; 
(J) the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Na-
tive American Caucus; 
(K) the Executive Director of the White 
House Council on Native American Affairs; 
(L) the Director of the Office of Manage-
ment and Budget; 
(M) the Archivist of the United States; 
(N) the Librarian of Congress; and 
(O) the Director of the National Museum 
of the American Indian. 
(5) ADDITIONAL
COMMISSION
RESPONSIBIL-
ITIES RELATING TO THE PUBLICATION OF THE INI-
TIAL AND FINAL REPORTS.— 
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(A) EVENTS
RELATING
TO
INITIAL
RE-
PORT.— 
(i) IN
GENERAL.—The Commission 
shall hold not fewer than 2 events in each 
region of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and 
in Hawai‘i following publication of the ini-
tial report under paragraph (2) to receive 
comments on the initial report. 
(ii) TIMING.—The schedule of events 
referred to in clause (i) shall be announced 
not later than 90 days after the date on 
which the initial report under paragraph 
(2) is published. 
(B) PUBLICATION
OF
FINAL
REPORT.— 
Not later than 180 days after the date on which 
the Commission submits the final report under 
paragraph (3), the Commission, the Secretary 
of the Interior, the Secretary of Education, the 
Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services shall each make 
the final report publicly available on the website 
of the applicable agency. 
(6) SECRETARIAL
RESPONSE
TO
FINAL
RE-
PORT.—Not later than 120 days after the date on 
which the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of 
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Education, the Secretary of Defense, and the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services receive the 
final report under paragraph (3), the Secretaries 
shall each make publicly available a written response 
to recommendations for future action by those agen-
cies, if any, contained in the final report, and submit 
the written response to— 
(A) the President; 
(B) the Committee on Indian Affairs of the 
Senate; 
(C) the Committee on Natural Resources 
of the House of Representatives; and 
(D) the Comptroller General of the United 
States. 
Subtitle C—Survivors Truth and 
Healing Subcommittee 
SEC. 
121. 
SURVIVORS 
TRUTH 
AND 
HEALING 
SUB-
COMMITTEE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a sub-
committee of the Commission, to be known as the ‘‘Sur-
vivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee’’. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP, NOMINATION, AND APPOINTMENT 
TO
THE
SURVIVORS
TRUTH
AND
HEALING
SUB-
COMMITTEE.— 
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(1) MEMBERSHIP.—The Survivors Truth and 
Healing Subcommittee shall include 15 members, to 
be appointed by the Commission, in consultation 
with the National Native American Boarding School 
Healing Coalition, from among the nominees sub-
mitted under paragraph (2)(A), of whom— 
(A) 12 shall be representatives from each 
of the 12 regions of the Bureau of Indian Af-
fairs and 1 shall be a representative from 
Hawai‘i; 
(B) 9 shall be individuals who attended an 
Indian Boarding School of whom— 
(i) not fewer than 2 shall be individ-
uals who graduated during the 5-year pe-
riod preceding the date of the enactment of 
this Act from— 
(I) an Indian Boarding School in 
operation as of that date of the enact-
ment; or 
(II) a Bureau of Indian Edu-
cation-funded school; and 
(ii) all shall represent diverse regions 
of the United States; 
(C) 5 shall be descendants of individuals 
who attended Indian Boarding Schools, who 
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shall represent diverse regions of the United 
States; and 
(D) 1 shall be an educator who, as of the 
date of the appointment— 
(i) is employed at an Indian Boarding 
School; or 
(ii) was employed at an Indian Board-
ing School during the 5-year period pre-
ceding the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
(2) NOMINATIONS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, In-
dian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Amer-
icans, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Na-
tive Hawaiian organizations may submit to the 
Secretary of the Interior nominations for indi-
viduals to be appointed as members of the Sur-
vivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee. 
(B) SUBMISSION.—The Secretary of the 
Interior shall provide the Commission with 
nominations submitted under subparagraph (A) 
at the initial business meeting of the Commis-
sion under section 101(c)(1) and the Commis-
sion shall select the members of the Survivors 
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Truth and Healing Subcommittee from among 
those nominees. 
(3) DATE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall 
appoint all members of the Survivors Truth and 
Healing Subcommittee during the initial busi-
ness meeting of the Commission under section 
101(c)(1). 
(B) FAILURE TO APPOINT.—If the Com-
mission fails to appoint all members of the Sur-
vivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee in ac-
cordance with subparagraph (A), the Chair of 
the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate, 
with the concurrence of the Vice Chair of the 
Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate, 
shall appoint individuals, in accordance with the 
requirements of paragraph (1), to all vacant po-
sitions of the Survivors Truth and Healing Sub-
committee not later than 30 days after the date 
of the initial business meeting of the Commis-
sion under section 101(c)(1). 
(4) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES; RE-
MOVAL.— 
(A) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT.—A mem-
ber of the Survivors Truth and Healing Sub-
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committee shall be appointed for an automati-
cally renewable term of 2 years. 
(B) VACANCIES.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—A member of the 
Survivors 
Truth 
and 
Healing 
Sub-
committee may vacate the position at any 
time and for any reason. 
(ii) EFFECT; FILLING OF VACANCY.— 
A vacancy in the Survivors Truth and 
Healing Subcommittee— 
(I) shall not affect the powers of 
the Survivors Truth and Healing Sub-
committee if a simple majority of the 
positions of the Survivors Truth and 
Healing Subcommittee are filled; and 
(II) shall be filled within 90 days 
in the same manner as was the origi-
nal appointment. 
(C) REMOVAL.—A quorum of members of 
the Commission may remove a member of the 
Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee 
only for neglect of duty or malfeasance. 
(5) TERMINATION.—The Survivors Truth and 
Healing Subcommittee shall terminate 90 days after 
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the date on which the Commission submits the final 
report required under section 111(e)(3). 
(6) LIMITATION.—No member of the Survivors 
Truth and Healing Subcommittee may otherwise be 
an officer or employee of the Federal Government. 
(c) BUSINESS MEETINGS.— 
(1) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30 days 
after the date on which all members of the Survivors 
Truth and Healing Subcommittee are appointed 
under subsection (b)(1), the Survivors Truth and 
Healing Subcommittee shall hold an initial business 
meeting— 
(A) to appoint— 
(i) a Chairperson, who shall also serve 
as the Vice Chairperson of the Federal and 
Religious Truth and Healing Advisory 
Committee; 
(ii) a Vice Chairperson, who shall also 
serve as the Vice Chairperson of the Na-
tive American Truth and Healing Advisory 
Committee; and 
(iii) other positions, as determined 
necessary by the Survivors Truth and 
Healing Subcommittee; 
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(B) to establish, with the advice of the 
Commission, rules for the Survivors Truth and 
Healing Subcommittee; 
(C) to appoint 3 designees to fulfill the re-
sponsibilities described in section 101(h)(1)(A); 
and 
(D) to appoint, with the advice of the 
Commission, 2 members of the Survivors Truth 
and Healing Subcommittee to serve as non-vot-
ing designees on the Commission in accordance 
with section 101(c)(3). 
(2) SUBSEQUENT BUSINESS MEETINGS.—After 
the initial business meeting of the Survivors Truth 
and Healing Subcommittee is held under paragraph 
(1), the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee 
shall meet at the call of the Chairperson. 
(3) FORMAT OF BUSINESS MEETINGS.—A busi-
ness meeting of the Survivors Truth and Healing 
Subcommittee may be conducted in-person or vir-
tually. 
(4) QUORUM REQUIRED.—A business meeting 
of the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee 
may be held only after a quorum, established in ac-
cordance with subsection (d), is present. 
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(d) QUORUM.—A simple majority of the members of 
the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee shall con-
stitute a quorum for a business meeting. 
(e) RULES.—The Survivors Truth and Healing Sub-
committee, with the advice of the Commission, may estab-
lish, by a majority vote, any rules for the conduct of busi-
ness, in accordance with this section and other applicable 
law. 
(f) DUTIES.—The Survivors Truth and Healing Sub-
committee shall— 
(1) assist the Commission, the Native American 
Truth and Healing Advisory Committee, and the 
Federal and Religious Truth and Healing Advisory 
Committee in coordinating public and private 
convenings, including providing advice to the Com-
mission on developing criteria and protocols for 
convenings; 
(2) provide advice and evaluate Committee rec-
ommendations relating to the commemoration and 
public education relating to Indian Boarding Schools 
and Indian Boarding School Policies; 
(3) assist the Commission— 
(A) in the production of the initial and 
final reports required under paragraphs (2) and 
(3), respectively, of section 111(e); and 
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(B) by providing such other advice, or ful-
filling such other requests, as may be required 
by the Commission; and 
(4) coordinate with the Commission, the Native 
American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee, 
and the Federal and Religious Truth and Healing 
Advisory Committee. 
(g) CONSULTATION OR ENGAGEMENT WITH NATIVE 
AMERICANS, INDIAN TRIBES, TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS, 
THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS, AND NATIVE HA-
WAIIAN ORGANIZATIONS.—In carrying out the duties of 
the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee under 
subsection (f), the Survivors Truth and Healing Sub-
committee shall meaningfully consult or engage, as appro-
priate, in a timely manner with Native Americans, Indian 
Tribes, Tribal organizations, the Office of Hawaiian Af-
fairs, and Native Hawaiian organizations. 
(h) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT APPLICA-
BILITY.—Chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code (com-
monly known as the ‘‘Federal Advisory Committee Act’’), 
shall not apply to the Survivors Truth and Healing Sub-
committee. 
(i) CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACT APPLICA-
BILITY.—For purposes of the Congressional Account-
ability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.), any individual 
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who is a member of the Survivors Truth and Healing Sub-
committee shall be considered a covered employee under 
the Act. 
(j) PERSONNEL MATTERS.— 
(1) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—A member 
of the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee 
shall be compensated at a daily equivalent of the an-
nual rate of basic pay prescribed for grade 7, step 
1, of the General Schedule under section 5332 of 
title 5, United States Code, for each day, not to ex-
ceed 10 days per month, for which a member of the 
Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee is en-
gaged in the performance of their duties under this 
Act limited to convening meetings, including public 
and private meetings to receive testimony in further-
ance of the duties of the Survivors Truth and Heal-
ing Subcommittee and the purposes of this Act. 
(2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—A member of the Sur-
vivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee shall be al-
lowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of 
agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, 
United States Code, while away from their homes or 
regular places of business in the performance of 
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services for the Survivors Truth and Healing Sub-
committee. 
TITLE II—ADVISORY 
COMMITTEES 
Subtitle A—Native American Truth 
and Healing Advisory Committee 
SEC. 201. NATIVE AMERICAN TRUTH AND HEALING ADVI-
SORY COMMITTEE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Commission shall estab-
lish an advisory committee, to be known as the ‘‘Native 
American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee’’. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP, NOMINATION, AND APPOINTMENT 
TO THE NATIVE AMERICAN TRUTH AND HEALING ADVI-
SORY COMMITTEE.— 
(1) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Native American 
Truth and Healing Advisory Committee shall 
include 19 members, to be appointed by the 
Commission from among the nominees sub-
mitted under paragraph (2)(A), of whom— 
(i) 1 shall be the Vice Chairperson of 
the Commission, who shall serve as the 
Chairperson of the Native American Truth 
and Healing Advisory Committee; 
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(ii) 1 shall be the Vice Chairperson of 
the Survivors Truth and Healing Sub-
committee, who shall serve as the Vice 
Chairperson of the Native American Truth 
and Healing Advisory Committee; 
(iii) 1 shall be the Secretary of the In-
terior, or a designee, who shall serve as the 
Secretary of the Native American Truth 
and Healing Advisory Committee; 
(iv) 12 shall be representatives from 
each of the 12 regions of the Bureau of In-
dian Affairs and 1 shall be a representative 
from Hawai‘i; 
(v) 1 shall represent the National Na-
tive American Boarding School Healing 
Coalition; 
(vi) 1 shall represent the National As-
sociation of Tribal Historic Preservation 
Officers; and 
(vii) 1 shall represent the National In-
dian Education Association. 
(B) ADDITIONAL
REQUIREMENTS.—Not 
fewer than 2 members of the Native American 
Truth and Healing Advisory Committee shall 
have experience with health care or mental 
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health, traditional healing or cultural practices, 
counseling, or working with survivors, or de-
scendants of survivors, of Indian Boarding 
Schools to ensure that the Commission con-
siders culturally responsive support for sur-
vivors, families, and communities. 
(2) NOMINATIONS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, In-
dian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Amer-
icans, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Na-
tive Hawaiian organizations may submit to the 
Secretary of the Interior nominations for indi-
viduals to be appointed as members of the Na-
tive American Truth and Healing Advisory 
Committee. 
(B) SUBMISSION.—The Secretary of the 
Interior shall provide the Commission with 
nominations submitted under subparagraph (A) 
at the initial business meeting of the Commis-
sion under section 101(c)(1) and the Commis-
sion shall select the members of the Native 
American Truth and Healing Advisory Com-
mittee from among those nominees. 
(3) DATE.— 
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(A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall 
appoint all members of the Native American 
Truth and Healing Advisory Committee during 
the initial business meeting of the Commission 
under section 101(c)(1). 
(B) FAILURE TO APPOINT.—If the Com-
mission fails to appoint all members of the Na-
tive American Truth and Healing Advisory 
Committee in accordance with subparagraph 
(A), the Chair of the Committee on Indian Af-
fairs of the Senate, with the concurrence of the 
Vice Chair of the Committee on Indian Affairs 
of the Senate, shall appoint, in accordance with 
the requirements of paragraph (1), individuals 
to all vacant positions of the Native American 
Truth and Healing Advisory Committee not 
later than 30 days after the date of the initial 
business meeting of the Commission under sec-
tion 101(c)(1). 
(4) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES.— 
(A) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT.—A mem-
ber of the Native American Truth and Healing 
Advisory Committee shall be appointed for an 
automatically renewable term of 2 years. 
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under paragraph (1), the Native American Truth 
and Healing Advisory Committee shall meet at the 
call of the Chairperson. 
(3) FORMAT OF BUSINESS MEETINGS.—A meet-
ing of the Native American Truth and Healing Advi-
sory Committee may be conducted in-person or vir-
tually. 
(4) QUORUM REQUIRED.—A business meeting 
of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory 
Committee may be held only after a quorum, estab-
lished in accordance with subsection (c), is present. 
(f) RULES.—The Native American Truth and Heal-
ing Advisory Committee may establish, with the advice of 
the Commission, by a majority vote, any rules for the con-
duct of business, in accordance with this section and other 
applicable law. 
(g) DUTIES.—The Native American Truth and Heal-
ing Advisory Committee shall— 
(1) serve as an advisory body to the Commis-
sion; 
(2) assist the Commission in organizing and 
carrying out culturally appropriate public and pri-
vate convenings relating to the duties of the Com-
mission; 
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(3) assist the Commission in determining what 
documentation from Federal and religious organiza-
tions and institutions may be necessary to fulfill the 
duties of the Commission; 
(4) assist the Commission in the production of 
the initial report and final report required under 
paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively, of section 
111(e); 
(5) coordinate with the Commission, the Fed-
eral and Religious Truth and Healing Advisory 
Committee, and the Survivors Truth and Healing 
Subcommittee; and 
(6) provide advice to, or fulfill such other re-
quests by, the Commission as the Commission may 
require to carry out the purposes described in sec-
tion 2. 
(h) CONSULTATION OR ENGAGEMENT WITH NATIVE 
AMERICANS, INDIAN TRIBES, TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS, 
THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS, AND NATIVE HA-
WAIIAN ORGANIZATIONS.—In carrying out the duties of 
the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Com-
mittee under subsection (g), the Native American Truth 
and Healing Advisory Committee shall meaningfully con-
sult or engage, as appropriate, in a timely manner with 
Native Americans, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, 
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the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Native Hawaiian orga-
nizations. 
(i) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT APPLICA-
BILITY.—Chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code (com-
monly known as the ‘‘Federal Advisory Committee Act’’), 
shall not apply to the Native American Truth and Healing 
Advisory Committee. 
(j) CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACT APPLICA-
BILITY.—For purposes of the Congressional Account-
ability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.), any individual 
who is a member of the Native American Truth and Heal-
ing Advisory Committee shall be considered a covered em-
ployee under the Act. 
(k) PERSONNEL MATTERS.— 
(1) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—A member 
of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory 
Committee shall be compensated at a daily equiva-
lent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for 
grade 7, step 1, of the General Schedule under sec-
tion 5332 of title 5, United States Code, for each 
day, not to exceed 14 days per month, for which a 
member is engaged in the performance of their du-
ties under this Act, limited to convening meetings, 
including public and private meetings to receive tes-
timony in furtherance of the duties of the Native 
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American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee 
and the purposes of this Act. 
(2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—A member of the Na-
tive American Truth and Healing Advisory Com-
mittee shall be allowed travel expenses, including per 
diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for 
employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 
57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from 
their homes or regular places of business in the per-
formance of services for the Native American Truth 
and Healing Advisory Committee. 
Subtitle B—Federal and Religious 
Truth 
and 
Healing 
Advisory 
Committee 
SEC. 211. FEDERAL AND RELIGIOUS TRUTH AND HEALING 
ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within 
the Department of the Interior an advisory committee, to 
be known as the ‘‘Federal and Religious Truth and Heal-
ing Advisory Committee’’. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP AND APPOINTMENT TO THE FED-
ERAL AND RELIGIOUS TRUTH AND HEALING ADVISORY 
COMMITTEE.— 
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(1) MEMBERSHIP.—The Federal and Religious 
Truth and Healing Advisory Committee shall include 
20 members, of whom— 
(A) 1 shall be the Chairperson of the Com-
mission, who shall serve as the Chairperson of 
the Federal and Religious Truth and Healing 
Advisory Committee; 
(B) 1 shall be the Chairperson of the Sur-
vivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee, who 
shall serve as the Vice Chairperson of the Fed-
eral and Religious Truth and Healing Advisory 
Committee; 
(C) 1 shall be the White House Domestic 
Policy Advisor, who shall serve as the Secretary 
of the Federal and Religious Truth and Healing 
Advisory Committee; 
(D) 1 shall be the Director of the Bureau 
of Trust Funds Administration (or a designee); 
(E) 1 shall be the Archivist of the United 
States (or a designee); 
(F) 1 shall be the Librarian of Congress 
(or a designee); 
(G) 1 shall be the Director of the Depart-
ment of the Interior Library (or a designee); 
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(H) 1 shall be the Director of the Indian 
Health Service (or a designee); 
(I) 1 shall be the Assistant Secretary for 
Mental Health and Substance Abuse of the De-
partment of Health and Human Services (or a 
designee); 
(J) 1 shall be the Commissioner of the Ad-
ministration for Native Americans of the De-
partment of Health and Human Services (or a 
designee); 
(K) 1 shall be the Director of the National 
Institutes of Health (or a designee); 
(L) 1 shall be the Senior Program Director 
of the Office of Native Hawaiian Relations of 
the Department of the Interior (or a designee); 
(M) 1 shall be the Director of the Office 
of Indian Education of the Department of Edu-
cation (or a designee); 
(N) 1 shall be the Director of the Rural, 
Insular, and Native American Achievement Pro-
grams of the Department of Education (or a 
designee); 
(O) 1 shall be the Chair of the Advisory 
Council on Historic Preservation (or a des-
ignee); 
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(P) 1 shall be the Assistant Secretary of 
Indian Affairs (or a designee); 
(Q) 1 shall be the Director of the Bureau 
of Indian Education (or a designee); and 
(R) 3 shall be representatives employed by, 
or representatives of, religious institutions, to 
be appointed by the White House Office of 
Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships in 
consultation with relevant religious institutions. 
(2) PERIOD
OF
SERVICE; 
VACANCIES; 
RE-
MOVAL.— 
(A) PERIOD OF SERVICE.—A member of 
the Federal and Religious Truth and Healing 
Advisory Committee shall serve for an auto-
matically renewable term of 2 years. 
(B) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Fed-
eral and Religious Truth and Healing Advisory 
Committee— 
(i) shall not affect the powers of the 
Federal and Religious Truth and Healing 
Advisory Committee if a simple majority of 
the positions of the Federal and Religious 
Truth and Healing Advisory Committee 
are filled; and 
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(ii) shall be filled within 90 days in 
the same manner as was the original ap-
pointment. 
(C) REMOVAL.—A quorum of members of 
the Federal and Religious Truth and Healing 
Advisory Committee may remove a member of 
the Federal and Religious Truth and Healing 
Advisory Committee only for neglect of duty or 
malfeasance. 
(3) TERMINATION.—The Federal and Religious 
Truth and Healing Advisory Committee shall termi-
nate 90 days after the date on which the Commis-
sion submits the final report required under section 
111(e)(3). 
(c) BUSINESS MEETINGS.— 
(1) INITIAL
BUSINESS
MEETING.—Not later 
than 30 days after the date of the initial business 
meeting of the Commission under section 101(c)(1), 
the Federal and Religious Truth and Healing Advi-
sory Committee shall hold an initial business meet-
ing— 
(A) to establish rules for the Federal and 
Religious Truth and Healing Advisory Com-
mittee; and 
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(B) to appoint 2 members of the Federal 
and Religious Truth and Healing Advisory 
Committee to serve as non-voting designees on 
the Commission in accordance with section 
101(c)(3). 
(2) SUBSEQUENT BUSINESS MEETINGS.—After 
the initial business meeting of the Federal and Reli-
gious Truth and Healing Advisory Committee is held 
under paragraph (1), the Federal and Religious 
Truth and Healing Advisory Committee shall meet 
at the call of the Chairperson. 
(3) FORMAT OF BUSINESS MEETINGS.—A busi-
ness meeting of the Federal and Religious Truth 
and Healing Advisory Committee may be conducted 
in-person or virtually. 
(4) QUORUM REQUIRED.—A business meeting 
of the Federal and Religious Truth and Healing Ad-
visory Committee may be held only after a quorum, 
established in accordance with subsection (d), is 
present. 
(d) QUORUM.—A simple majority of the members of 
the Federal and Religious Truth and Healing Advisory 
Committee shall constitute a quorum for a business meet-
ing. 
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(e) RULES.—The Federal and Religious Truth and 
Healing Advisory Committee may establish, with the ad-
vice of the Commission, by a majority vote, any rules for 
the conduct of business, in accordance with this section 
and other applicable law. 
(f) DUTIES.—The Federal and Religious Truth and 
Healing Advisory Committee shall— 
(1) ensure the effective and timely coordination 
among Federal agencies and religious institutions in 
furtherance of the purposes of this Act; 
(2) assist the Commission and the Native 
American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee in 
coordinating— 
(A) meetings and other related public and 
private convenings; and 
(B) the collection, organization, and pres-
ervation of information obtained from witnesses 
and by other Federal agencies and religious in-
stitutions; 
(3) ensure the timely submission to the Com-
mission of materials, documents, testimony, and 
such other information as the Commission deter-
mines to be necessary to carry out the duties of the 
Commission; and 
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(4) coordinate with the Commission, the Native 
American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee, 
and the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee 
to carry out the purposes of this Act. 
(g) CONSULTATION OR ENGAGEMENT WITH NATIVE 
AMERICANS, INDIAN TRIBES, TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS, 
THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS, AND NATIVE HA-
WAIIAN ORGANIZATIONS.—In carrying out the duties of 
the Federal and Religious Truth and Healing Advisory 
Committee under subsection (f), the Federal and Religious 
Truth and Healing Advisory Committee shall meaningfully 
consult or engage, as appropriate, in a timely manner with 
Native Americans, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, 
the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Native Hawaiian orga-
nizations. 
(h) NONDISCLOSURE.— 
(1) PRIVACY
ACT
OF
1974
APPLICABILITY.— 
Subsection (b) of section 552a of title 5, United 
States Code (commonly known as the ‘‘Privacy Act 
of 1974’’), shall not apply to the Federal and Reli-
gious Truth and Healing Advisory Committee. 
(2) FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT APPLICA-
BILITY.—Records and other communications in the 
possession of the Federal and Religious Truth and 
Healing Advisory Committee shall be exempt from 
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disclosure under subsection (b)(3)(B) of section 552 
of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as 
the ‘‘Freedom of Information Act’’). 
(3) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT AP-
PLICABILITY.—Chapter 10 of title 5, United States 
Code (commonly known as the ‘‘Federal Advisory 
Committee Act’’), shall not apply to the Federal and 
Religious Truth and Healing Advisory Committee. 
TITLE III—GENERAL 
PROVISIONS 
SEC. 301. CLARIFICATION. 
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatri-
ation Act (25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.) shall apply to cultural 
items (as defined in section 2 of that Act (25 U.S.C. 
3001)) relating to an Indian Boarding School or Indian 
Boarding School Policies regardless of interpretation of 
applicability by a Federal agency. 
SEC. 302. BURIAL MANAGEMENT. 
Federal agencies shall permit reburial of cultural 
items relating to an Indian Boarding School or Indian 
Boarding School Policies that have been repatriated pur-
suant to the Native American Graves Protection and Re-
patriation Act (25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.), or returned to 
a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian or-
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