IB 
Union Calendar No. 554 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5153 
[Report No. 116–670] 
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 
DECEMBER 18, 2020 
Additional sponsors: Mrs. TORRES of California, Mr. COOK, Mr. LAMALFA, 
and Mr. FORTENBERRY 
DECEMBER 18, 2020 
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 18, 2019] 
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A BILL 
To assist Tribal governments in the management of buffalo 
and buffalo habitat and for the reestablishment of buf-
falo on Indian lands. 
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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 Manage-
ment 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 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 cul-
tural, 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 
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(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: 
(1) BUFFALO.—The term ‘‘buffalo’’ means an 
animal of the subspecies Bison bison bison. 
(2) BUFFALO HABITAT.—The term ‘‘buffalo habi-
tat’’ means Indian land, as defined in paragraph (4) 
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 sec-
tion 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 reservation’’ in 
paragraph (3) of that section, without regard 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-
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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 organiza-
tion of Indians which is chartered under section 17 
of the Act of June 18, 1934 (commonly known as the 
‘‘Indian Reorganization Act’’) (25 U.S.C. 5124), by 
the recognized governing body of any Indian Tribe or 
Tribes, and with demonstrable experience in the res-
toration of buffalo and buffalo habitat on Indian 
land. 
SEC. 4. BUFFALO RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. 
(a) PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish a permanent program within the Department of the 
Interior for the purpose of— 
(1) promoting and developing the capacity of In-
dian Tribes and Tribal organizations to manage buf-
falo and buffalo habitat; 
(2) promoting the ability of Indian Tribes and 
Tribal organizations to protect, conserve, and enhance 
populations of buffalo that are owned by Indian 
Tribes or Tribal organizations; 
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(3) promoting the development and use of buffalo 
and buffalo habitat for the maximum practicable ben-
efit of Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations; and 
(4) promoting the inclusion of Indian Tribes and 
Tribal organizations in Department, international, 
national, regional, and local decision making and fo-
rums regarding buffalo and buffalo habitat. 
(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 buf-
falo 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 or buffalo that escape from 
Indian land. 
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(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— 
(1) carrying out the activities of a buffalo or buf-
falo habitat restoration or management program; and 
(2) implementing the activities described in sub-
paragraphs (A) through (C) of subsection (b)(1). 
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. 
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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 
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 buffalo 
onto Indian land. 
(b) APPLICATION.—An Indian Tribe or Tribal organi-
zation 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), in-
cluding 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 Secretary 
for grants to implement this Act, $14,000,000 for the first 
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fiscal year beginning after the date of the enactment of this 
Act and for each fiscal year thereafter. 
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Union Calendar No. 554 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5153 
[Report No. 116–670] 
A BILL 
To assist Tribal governments in the management of 
buffalo and buffalo habitat and for the reestab-
lishment of buffalo on Indian lands. 
DECEMBER 18, 2020 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
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