(A) the Bureau or other agency of the Federal
Government providing agriculture or natural re-
source related services to Indians or Indian tribes;
(B) an agriculture or related program con-
ducted under a contract, grant, or cooperative agree-
ment entered into under the Indian Self-Determina-
tion and Education Assistance Act; or
(C) a tribal agriculture or related program.
(3) The Secretary shall not deny scholarship assist-
ance under this subsection solely on the basis of an appli-
cant’s scholastic achievement if the applicant has been ad-
mitted to and remains in good standing in an accredited
post secondary or graduate institution.
(d) EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH.—The Secretary shall
conduct, through the Bureau, and in consultation with
other appropriate local, State and Federal agencies, and
in consultation and coordination with Indian tribes, an ag-
ricultural resource education outreach program for Indian
youth to explain and stimulate interest in all aspects of
management and careers in Indian agriculture and natu-
ral resources.
(e) ADEQUACY OF PROGRAMS.—The Secretary shall
administer the programs described in this section until a
sufficient number of Indians are trained to ensure that
there is an adequate number of qualified, professional In-
dian agricultural resource managers to manage the Bu-
reau agricultural resource programs and programs main-
tained by or for Indian tribes.
SEC. 202. POSTGRADUATION RECRUITMENT, EDUCATION
AND TRAINING PROGRAMS.
(a) ASSUMPTION OF LOANS.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish and maintain a program to attract Indian profes-
sionals who are graduates of a course of postsecondary
or graduate education for employment in either the Bu-
reau agriculture or related programs or, subject to the ap-
proval of the tribe, in tribal agriculture or related pro-
grams. According to such regulations as the Secretary
may prescribe, such program shall provide for the employ-
ment of Indian professionals in exchange for the assump-
tion by the Secretary of the outstanding student loans of
the employee. The period of employment shall be deter-
mined by the amount of the loan that is assumed.
(b) POSTGRADUATE INTERGOVERNMENTAL INTERN-
SHIPS.—For the purposes of training, skill development
and orientation of Indian and Federal agricultural man-
agement personnel, and the enhancement of tribal and Bu-
reau agricultural resource programs, the Secretary shall
establish and actively conduct a program for the coopera-
tive internship of Federal and Indian agricultural resource
personnel. Such program shall—
(1) for agencies within the Department of the
Interior—
(A) provide for the internship of Bureau
and Indian agricultural resource employees in
the agricultural resource related programs of
other agencies of the Department of the Inte-
rior, and
(B) provide for the internship of agricul-
tural resource personnel from the other Depart-
ment of the Interior agencies within the Bu-
reau, and, with the consent of the tribe, within
tribal agricultural resource programs;
(2) for agencies not within the Department of
the Interior, provide, pursuant to an interagency
agreement, internships within the Bureau and, with
the consent of the tribe, within a tribal agricultural
resource program of other agricultural resource per-
sonnel of such agencies who are above their sixth
year of Federal service;
(3) provide for the continuation of salary and
benefits for participating Federal employees by their
originating agency;
(4) provide for salaries and benefits of partici-
pating Indian agricultural resource employees by the
host agency; and
(5) provide for a bonus pay incentive at the
conclusion of the internship for any participant.
(c) CONTINUING EDUCATION AND TRAINING.—The
Secretary shall maintain a program within the Trust Serv-
ices Division of the Bureau for Indian agricultural re-
source personnel which shall provide for—
(1) orientation training for Bureau agricultural
resource personnel in tribal-Federal relations and
responsibilities;
(2) continuing technical agricultural resource
education for Bureau and Indian agricultural re-
source personnel; and
(3) development training of Indian agricultural
resource personnel in agricultural resource based en-
terprises and marketing.
SEC. 203. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE DE-
PARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND INDIAN
TRIBES.
(a) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—
(1)(A) To facilitate the administration of the
programs and activities of the Department of the In-
terior, the Secretary may negotiate and enter into
cooperative agreements with Indian tribes to—
(i) engage in cooperative manpower and
job training,
(ii) develop and publish cooperative agri-
cultural education and resource planning mate-
rials, and
(iii) perform land and facility improve-
ments and other activities related to land and
natural resource management and development.
(B) The Secretary may enter into these agree-
ments when the Secretary determines the interest of
Indians and Indian tribes will be benefited.
(2) In cooperative agreements entered into
under paragraph (1), the Secretary may advance or
reimburse funds to contractors from any appro-
priated funds available for similar kinds of work or
by furnishing or sharing materials, supplies, facili-
ties, or equipment without regard to the provisions
of section 3324 of title 31, United States Code, re-
lating to the advance of public moneys.
(b) SUPERVISION.—In any agreement authorized by
this section, Indian tribes and their employees may per-
form cooperative work under the supervision of the De-
partment of the Interior in emergencies or otherwise as
mutually agreed to, but shall not be deemed to be Federal
employees other than for the purposes of sections 2671
through 2680 of title 28, United States Code, and sections
8101 through 8193 of title 5, United States Code.
(c) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this Act shall be
construed to limit the authority of the Secretary to enter
into cooperative agreements otherwise authorized by law.
SEC. 204. OBLIGATED SERVICE; BREACH OF CONTRACT.
(a) OBLIGATED SERVICE.—Where an individual en-
ters into an agreement for obligated service in return for
financial assistance under any provision of this title, the
Secretary shall adopt such regulations as are necessary to
provide for the offer of employment to the recipient of
such assistance as required by such provision. Where an
offer of employment is not reasonably made, the regula-
tions shall provide that such service shall no longer be
required.
(b) BREACH OF CONTRACT; REPAYMENT.—Where an
individual fails to accept a reasonable offer of employment
in fulfillment of such obligated service or unreasonably
terminates or fails to perform the duties of such employ-
ment, the Secretary shall require a repayment of the fi-
nancial assistance provided, prorated for the amount of
time of obligated service that was performed, together with
interest on such amount which would be payable if at the
time the amounts were paid they were loans bearing inter-
est at the maximum legal prevailing rate, as determined
by the Secretary of the Treasury.
TITLE III—GENERAL
PROVISIONS
SEC. 301. REGULATIONS.
Except as otherwise provided by this Act, the Sec-
retary shall promulgate final regulations for the imple-
mentation of this Act within 24 months after the date of
enactment of this Act. All regulations promulgated pursu-
ant to this Act shall be developed by the Secretary with
the participation of the affected Indian tribes.
SEC. 302. TRUST RESPONSIBILITY.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to diminish
or expand the trust responsibility of the United States to-
ward Indian trust lands or natural resources, or any legal
obligation or remedy resulting therefrom.
SEC. 303. SEVERABILITY.
If any provision of this Act, or the application of any
provision of this Act to any person or circumstance, is held
invalid, the application of such provision or circumstance
and the remainder of this Act shall not be affected
thereby.
SEC. 304. FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITY.
(a) DISCLAIMER.—Nothing in this Act shall be con-
strued to supercede or limit the authority of Federal,
State or local agencies otherwise authorized by law to pro-
vide services to Indians.
(b) DUPLICATION
OF SERVICES.—The Secretary
shall work with all appropriate Federal departments and
agencies to avoid duplication of programs and services cur-
rently available to Indian tribes and landowners from
other sources.
SEC. 305. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) GENERAL AUTHORIZATION.—There are author-
ized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary
to carry out the purposes of this Act.
(b) FUNDING
SOURCE.—The activities required
under title II may only be funded from appropriations
made pursuant to this Act. To the greatest extent possible,
such activities shall be coordinated with activities funded
from other sources.
Passed the House of Representatives November 16,
1993.
Attest:
DONNALD K. ANDERSON,
Clerk.
HR 1425 RFS——2
HR 1425 RFS——3