I 
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4871 
To ensure the coordination and integration of Indian tribes in the National 
Homeland Security strategy and to establish an Office of Tribal Govern-
ment Homeland Security within the Department of Homeland Security, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 2, 2006 
Mr. PALLONE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Se-
curity, 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 ensure the coordination and integration of Indian tribes 
in the National Homeland Security strategy and to es-
tablish an Office of Tribal Government Homeland Secu-
rity within the Department of Homeland Security, 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 
‘‘Tribal Government Homeland Security Coordination and 
Integration Act’’. 
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(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Findings and purposes. 
Sec. 3. Definitions. 
Sec. 4. Office of tribal government homeland security. 
Sec. 5. Report to congress. 
Sec. 6. Authorization of appropriations. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 
2001, and the subsequent introduction of weapons 
grade anthrax into the United States Postal System 
and Congressional office buildings in Washington, 
D.C., the President and the Congress have worked 
closely to respond to the need to rebuild and 
strengthen the nation’s public health, national secu-
rity, and emergency response systems. 
(2) Based on Article I, section 8 of the United 
States Constitution, treaties, Federal statutes, and 
court decisions, the United States has a unique his-
torical and legal relationship with American Indian 
and Alaska Native people, which serves as the basis 
for the Federal Government’s trust responsibility 
and obligations. There are currently 558 federally- 
recognized Indian tribes in the United States, with 
some 40 percent of Indian tribes located in the State 
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of Alaska. Indian tribes have principle responsibility 
for lands and people within their jurisdiction. 
(3) Despite the government-to-government rela-
tionship between Indian tribes and the United 
States, the United States has failed to include and 
consult with Indian tribes with regard to homeland 
security prevention, protection, and response activi-
ties planning. Moreover, there are no specific provi-
sions for the Bureau of Indian Affairs or the Indian 
Health Service to participate in homeland security 
programs and funding. 
(4) Throughout many areas of the United 
States, facilities operated, and services, activities 
and government functions carried out, by Indian 
tribes, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian 
Health Service are the only sources available to pro-
vide emergency health services, disaster response, 
and law enforcement to the tribal and non-tribal 
community, thus serving the role as ‘‘first respond-
ers’’ in the event of a terrorist attack. 
(5) To provide for the public health and safety 
on tribal lands and in the surrounding communities, 
it is imperative to establish tribal participation in 
homeland security initiatives. Indian tribes must be 
included in the national strategy for homeland secu-
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rity and receive an appropriate share of related 
funding. 
(6) The treatment of Indian tribes as State 
governments, as appropriate, for developing funding 
methodologies, planning, consultation, coordination, 
and for eligibility for grant monies will ensure In-
dian tribes are adequately prepared to respond to 
Homeland Security threats. 
(7) Indian tribes shall be treated as State, as 
appropriate, for purposes of planning, consultation, 
coordination, eligibility for grant monies and other 
purposes to improve the United States capacity to 
prepare, prevent and respond to terrorist activities. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are as fol-
lows: 
(1) To establish within the Department of 
Homeland Security an office known as the Office of 
Tribal Government Homeland Security. 
(2) To authorize the Secretary of Homeland Se-
curity to appoint, in consultation with Indian tribes, 
a Director of Tribal Government Homeland Secu-
rity. 
(3) To provide for more effective management 
of, and accountability for the proper discharge of, 
the Secretary’s trust responsibility to Indian tribes 
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and individual American Indians and Alaska Natives 
by establishing in the Department of Homeland Se-
curity an Office of Tribal Government Homeland Se-
curity. 
(4) To integrate and coordinate the efforts of 
the Department of Homeland Security and Indian 
tribes to prepare for, prevent, protect against, re-
spond to, and recover from terrorist attacks. 
(5) To provide strategic integration of the 
Homeland Security activities of Indian tribes that 
will complement the operational consolidation of the 
various directorates within the Department. 
(6) To supplement the capacity of the Indian 
Health Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to 
respond to the homeland security needs of American 
Indians and Alaska Natives, without jeopardizing 
the nonsecurity missions of the Indian Health Serv-
ice and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. 
(7) To serve as an information clearinghouse 
and to enhance the integration and coordination of 
Indian tribes and in the activities of the Department 
of Homeland Security. 
(8) To establish an organizational framework 
within the Department of Homeland Security 
through which the Federal Government, Indian 
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tribes, and State and local governments can work ef-
fectively and collaboratively on public health and 
safety, terrorism detection, prevention, response, and 
protection of critical infrastructure. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the Office of Tribal Government 
Homeland Security. 
(2) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ 
has the meaning given that term in section 4(e) of 
the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assist-
ance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b(e)). 
(3) OFFICE.—The term ‘‘Office’’ means the Of-
fice of Tribal Government Homeland Security estab-
lished in section 4. 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Homeland Security. 
SEC. 4. OFFICE OF TRIBAL GOVERNMENT HOMELAND SE-
CURITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby estab-
lished within the Department of Homeland Security 
an office to be known as the ‘‘Office of Tribal Gov-
ernment Homeland Security’’. 
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