I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5153 
To assist Tribal governments in the management of buffalo and buffalo 
habitat and for the reestablishment of buffalo on Indian lands. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 18, 2019 
Mr. YOUNG (for himself, Ms. HAALAND, and Mr. COLE) 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 for the reestablishment of buf-
falo on Indian lands. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Indian Buffalo Man-
agement Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 
(1) buffalo sustained a majority of Indian 
Tribes in North America for many centuries, before 
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buffalo were nearly exterminated by non-Indian 
hunters in the mid-1800s; 
(2) the historical, cultural, and spiritual connec-
tion between buffalo and Indian Tribes has not di-
minished over time; 
(3) Indian Tribes have long desired the reestab-
lishment of buffalo throughout Indian country for 
cultural, spiritual, and subsistence purposes; and 
(4) the successful restoration of buffalo allows 
an Indian Tribe to benefit from— 
(A) the reintroduction of buffalo into the 
diets of the members of the Indian Tribe; 
(B) the rekindling of the spiritual and cul-
tural relationship between buffalo and the In-
dian Tribe; and 
(C) the use of buffalo for economic devel-
opment, in the case of an Indian Tribe that 
chooses to use buffalo for economic develop-
ment. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are— 
(1) to fulfill the government-to-government rela-
tionship between Tribal governments and the United 
States in the management of buffalo and buffalo 
habitat; 
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(2) to promote and develop the capacity of In-
dian Tribes and Tribal organizations to manage buf-
falo and buffalo habitat; 
(3) to protect, conserve, and enhance Indian 
buffalo, which are important to the subsistence, cul-
ture, and economic development of many Indian 
Tribes; 
(4) to promote the development and use of buf-
falo and buffalo habitat for the maximum prac-
ticable benefit of Indian Tribes and Tribal organiza-
tions, through management of buffalo and buffalo 
habitats in accordance with integrated resource 
management plans developed by Indian Tribes and 
Tribal organizations; 
(5) to develop buffalo herds and increase pro-
duction of buffalo in order to meet Tribal subsist-
ence, health, cultural, and economic development 
needs; and 
(6) to promote the inclusion of Indian Tribes 
and Tribal organizations in Department, local, re-
gional, national, or international— 
(A) decision-making processes; or 
(B) forums. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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(1) BUFFALO.—The term ‘‘buffalo’’ means an 
animal of the genus Bison. 
(2) BUFFALO
HABITAT.—The term ‘‘buffalo 
habitat’’ means Indian land, as defined in paragraph 
(5) of this section, that is managed for buffalo. 
(3) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ 
means the Department of the Interior. 
(4) INDIAN
LAND.—The term ‘‘Indian land’’ 
has the meaning given the term in paragraph (2) of 
section 2601 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (25 
U.S.C. 3501), except that, in that paragraph, the 
term ‘‘Indian reservation’’ shall be considered to 
have the meaning given the term ‘‘Indian reserva-
tion’’ in paragraph (3) of that section, without re-
gard to the date specified in paragraph (3) of that 
section. 
(5) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 
has the meaning given the term (without regard to 
capitalization) in section 4 of the Indian Self-Deter-
mination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
5304). 
(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(7) TRIBAL ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘Tribal 
organization’’ means any legally established organi-
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ing and forums regarding buffalo and buffalo habi-
tat. 
(b) CONTRACTS AND GRANTS AUTHORIZED.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall enter 
into contracts and cooperative agreements with, and 
award grants to, Indian Tribes and Tribal organiza-
tions to enable the respective Indian Tribe or Tribal 
organization to— 
(A) plan, conduct, or implement a buffalo 
restoration or management program; 
(B) plan and execute commercial activities 
related to buffalo or buffalo products; or 
(C) carry out other activities related to 
buffalo restoration and management. 
(2) NO DIMINISHMENT OF LAWS AND REGULA-
TIONS.—Nothing in this subsection shall be inter-
preted to diminish any Federal or State law or regu-
lation of diseased buffalo. 
(c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall 
provide technical assistance to an Indian Tribe or Tribal 
organization that enters into a contract or cooperative 
agreement or receives a grant under this section to assist 
that Indian Tribe or Tribal organization in— 
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(1) carrying out the activities of a buffalo or 
buffalo habitat restoration or management program; 
and 
(2) implementing the activities described in 
paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (b). 
SEC. 5. CONSULTATION; COORDINATION. 
(a) CONSULTATION.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and on an ongoing basis 
thereafter, the Secretary shall consult with Indian Tribes 
and Tribal organizations on initiatives of the Department 
that affect buffalo or buffalo habitat, including efforts of 
the Department to contain or eradicate diseased buffalo. 
(b) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall develop a 
policy relating to buffalo and buffalo habitat management 
activities on Indian land, in accordance with— 
(1) the goals and objectives set forth in buffalo 
management programs approved by Indian Tribes; 
and 
(2) Tribal laws and ordinances. 
SEC. 6. PROTECTION OF INFORMATION. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Sec-
retary shall not disclose or cause to be disclosed any infor-
mation provided to the Secretary by an Indian Tribe or 
Tribal organization that is identified by the Indian Tribe 
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or Tribal organization as culturally sensitive, proprietary, 
or otherwise confidential. 
SEC. 7. BUFFALO FROM FEDERAL LAND. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may enter into an 
agreement with an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization to 
dispose of surplus buffalo on Federal land administered 
by the Department applicable, by transporting such buf-
falo onto Indian land. 
(b) APPLICATION.—An Indian Tribe or Tribal orga-
nization may submit to the Secretary an application to re-
ceive buffalo described in subsection (a) at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as the Sec-
retary may require. 
(c) WAIVER OF CHARGES.—The Secretary may waive 
any charges for the buffalo described in subsection (a), 
including any deposit or payment for services as described 
in section 10.2 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulation, 
or any successor regulation. 
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary for grants to implement this Act, $14,000,000 for 
the first fiscal year beginning after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act and for each fiscal year thereafter. 
Æ 
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