IB 
Union Calendar No. 329 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 812 
[Report No. 114–432] 
To provide for Indian trust asset management reform, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 9, 2015 
Mr. SIMPSON (for himself, Mr. COLE, and Mr. HECK of Washington) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural 
Resources 
FEBRUARY 24, 2016 
Additional sponsors: Mr. KILMER, Ms. DELBENE, Mr. LABRADOR, Mr. 
REICHERT, Mrs. MCMORRIS RODGERS, Mr. POCAN, Mr. JONES, Mr. 
GOSAR, and Mr. NEWHOUSE 
FEBRUARY 24, 2016 
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 February 9, 2015] 
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A BILL 
To provide for Indian trust asset management reform, and 
for other purposes. 
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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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘In-
dian Trust Asset Reform Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
TITLE I—RECOGNITION OF TRUST RESPONSIBILITY 
Sec. 101. Findings. 
Sec. 102. Reaffirmation of policy. 
TITLE II—INDIAN TRUST ASSET MANAGEMENT DEMONSTRATION 
PROJECT 
Sec. 201. Short title. 
Sec. 202. Definitions. 
Sec. 203. Establishment of demonstration project; selection of participating In-
dian Tribes. 
Sec. 204. Indian trust asset management plan. 
Sec. 205. Forest land management and surface leasing activities. 
Sec. 206. Effect of title. 
TITLE III—IMPROVING EFFICIENCY AND STREAMLINING 
PROCESSES 
Sec. 301. Purpose. 
Sec. 302. Definitions. 
Sec. 303. Under Secretary for Indian Affairs. 
Sec. 304. Office of Special Trustee for American Indians. 
Sec. 305. Appraisals and valuations. 
Sec. 306. Cost savings. 
TITLE I—RECOGNITION OF 
TRUST RESPONSIBILITY 
SEC. 101. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
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(1) there exists a unique relationship between the 
Government of the United States and the governments 
of Indian tribes; 
(2) there exists a unique Federal responsibility 
to Indians; 
(3) through treaties, statutes, and historical rela-
tions with Indian tribes, the United States has under-
taken a unique trust responsibility to protect and 
support Indian tribes and Indians; 
(4) the fiduciary responsibilities of the United 
States to Indians also are founded in part on specific 
commitments made through written treaties and 
agreements securing peace, in exchange for which In-
dians have surrendered claims to vast tracts of land, 
which provided legal consideration for permanent, on-
going performance of Federal trust duties; and 
(5) the foregoing historic Federal-tribal relations 
and understandings have benefitted the people of the 
United States as a whole for centuries and have estab-
lished enduring and enforceable Federal obligations to 
which the national honor has been committed. 
SEC. 102. REAFFIRMATION OF POLICY. 
Pursuant to the constitutionally vested authority of 
Congress over Indian affairs, Congress reaffirms that the 
responsibility of the United States to Indian tribes includes 
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a duty to promote tribal self-determination regarding gov-
ernmental authority and economic development. 
TITLE II—INDIAN TRUST ASSET 
MANAGEMENT 
DEMONSTRA-
TION PROJECT 
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Indian Trust Asset 
Management Demonstration Project Act of 2016’’. 
SEC. 202. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ has 
the meaning given the term in the Indian Self-Deter-
mination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
450b). 
(2) PROJECT.—The term ‘‘Project’’ means the 
Indian trust asset management demonstration project 
established under section 203(a). 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
SEC. 203. ESTABLISHMENT OF DEMONSTRATION PROJECT; 
SELECTION 
OF 
PARTICIPATING 
INDIAN 
TRIBES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish and 
carry out an Indian trust asset management demonstration 
project, in accordance with this title. 
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(b) SELECTION OF PARTICIPATING INDIAN TRIBES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—An Indian tribe shall be eligi-
ble to participate in the project if— 
(A) the Indian tribe submits to the Sec-
retary an application under subsection (c); and 
(B) the Secretary approves the application 
of the Indian tribe. 
(2) NOTICE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall pro-
vide a written notice to each Indian tribe ap-
proved to participate in the project. 
(B) CONTENTS.—A notice under subpara-
graph (A) shall include— 
(i) a statement that the application of 
the Indian tribe has been approved by the 
Secretary; and 
(ii) a requirement that the Indian 
tribe shall submit to the Secretary a pro-
posed Indian trust asset management plan 
in accordance with section 204. 
(c) APPLICATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible to participate 
in the project, an Indian tribe shall submit to the 
Secretary a written application in accordance with 
paragraph (2). 
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(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary shall con-
sider an application under this subsection only if the 
application— 
(A) includes a copy of a resolution or other 
appropriate action by the governing body of the 
Indian tribe, as determined by the Secretary, in 
support of or authorizing the application; 
(B) is received by the Secretary after the 
date of enactment of this Act; and 
(C) states that the Indian tribe is requesting 
to participate in the project. 
(d) DURATION.—The project— 
(1) shall remain in effect for a period of 10 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act; but 
(2) may be extended at the discretion of the Sec-
retary. 
SEC. 204. INDIAN TRUST ASSET MANAGEMENT PLAN. 
(a) PROPOSED PLAN.— 
(1) SUBMISSION.—After the date on which an 
Indian tribe receives a notice from the Secretary 
under section 203(b)(2), the Indian tribe shall submit 
to the Secretary a proposed Indian trust asset man-
agement plan in accordance with paragraph (2). 
(2) CONTENTS.—A proposed Indian trust asset 
management plan shall include provisions that— 
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(A) identify the trust assets that will be sub-
ject to the plan; 
(B) establish trust asset management objec-
tives and priorities for Indian trust assets that 
are located within the reservation, or otherwise 
subject to the jurisdiction, of the Indian tribe; 
(C) allocate trust asset management funding 
that is available for the Indian trust assets sub-
ject to the plan in order to meet the trust asset 
management objectives and priorities; 
(D) if the Indian tribe has contracted or 
compacted functions or activities under the In-
dian Self-Determination and Education Assist-
ance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.) relating to the 
management of trust assets— 
(i) identify the functions or activities 
that are being or will be performed by the 
Indian tribe under the contracts, compacts, 
or other agreements under that Act, which 
may include any of the surface leasing or 
forest land management activities author-
ized by the proposed plan pursuant to sec-
tion 205(b); and 
(ii) describe the practices and proce-
dures that the Indian tribe will follow; 
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(E) establish procedures for nonbinding me-
diation or resolution of any dispute between the 
Indian tribe and the United States relating to 
the trust asset management plan; 
(F) include a process for the Indian tribe 
and the Federal agencies affected by the trust 
asset management plan to conduct evaluations to 
ensure that trust assets are being managed in ac-
cordance with the plan; and 
(G) identify any Federal regulations that 
will be superseded by the plan. 
(3) TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE
AND
INFORMA-
TION.—On receipt of a written request from an In-
dian tribe, the Secretary shall provide to the Indian 
tribe any technical assistance and information, in-
cluding budgetary information, that the Indian tribe 
determines to be necessary for preparation of a pro-
posed plan. 
(b) APPROVAL
AND
DISAPPROVAL
OF
PROPOSED 
PLANS.— 
(1) APPROVAL.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days 
after the date on which an Indian tribe submits 
a proposed Indian trust asset management plan 
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under subsection (a), the Secretary shall approve 
or disapprove the proposed plan. 
(B) REQUIREMENTS
FOR
DISAPPROVAL.— 
The Secretary shall approve a proposed plan un-
less the Secretary determines that— 
(i) the proposed plan fails to address a 
requirement under subsection (a)(2); 
(ii) the proposed plan includes 1 or 
more provisions that are inconsistent with 
subsection (c); or 
(iii) the cost of implementing the pro-
posed plan exceeds the amount of funding 
available for the management of trust assets 
that would be subject to the proposed plan. 
(2) ACTION ON DISAPPROVAL.— 
(A) NOTICE.—If the Secretary disapproves 
a proposed plan under paragraph (1)(B), the 
Secretary shall provide to the Indian tribe a 
written notice of the disapproval, including any 
reason why the proposed plan was disapproved. 
(B) ACTION BY TRIBES.—If a proposed plan 
is disapproved under paragraph (1)(B), the In-
dian tribe may resubmit an amended proposed 
plan by not later than 90 days after the date on 
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which the Indian tribe receives the notice under 
subparagraph (A). 
(3) FAILURE TO APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE.—If 
the Secretary fails to approve or disapprove a pro-
posed plan in accordance with paragraph (1), the 
plan shall be considered to be approved. 
(4) JUDICIAL
REVIEW.—An Indian tribe may 
seek judicial review of a determination of the Sec-
retary under this subsection in accordance with sub-
chapter II of chapter 5, and chapter 7, of title 5, 
United States Code (commonly known as the ‘‘Admin-
istrative Procedure Act’’), if— 
(A) the Secretary disapproves the proposed 
plan of the Indian tribe under paragraph (1); 
and 
(B) the Indian tribe has exhausted all other 
administrative remedies available to the Indian 
tribe. 
(c) APPLICABLE LAWS.—Subject to section 205, an In-
dian trust asset management plan, and any activity car-
ried out under the plan, shall not be approved unless the 
proposed plan is consistent with any treaties, statutes, and 
Executive orders that are applicable to the trust assets, or 
the management of the trust assets, identified in the plan. 
(d) TERMINATION OF PLAN.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—An Indian tribe may termi-
nate an Indian trust asset management plan on any 
date after the date on which a proposed Indian trust 
asset management plan is approved by providing to 
the Secretary— 
(A) a notice of the intent of the Indian tribe 
to terminate the plan; and 
(B) a resolution of the governing body of the 
Indian tribe authorizing the termination of the 
plan. 
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—A termination of an In-
dian trust asset management plan under paragraph 
(1) takes effect on October 1 of the first fiscal year fol-
lowing the date on which a notice is provided to the 
Secretary under paragraph (1)(A). 
SEC. 205. FOREST LAND MANAGEMENT AND SURFACE LEAS-
ING ACTIVITIES. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) FOREST LAND MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY.—The 
term ‘‘forest land management activity’’ means any 
activity described in section 304(4) of the National 
Indian Forest Resources Management Act (25 U.S.C. 
3103(4)). 
(2) INTERESTED PARTY.—The term ‘‘interested 
party’’ means an Indian or non-Indian individual, 
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entity, or government the interests of which could be 
adversely affected by a tribal trust land leasing deci-
sion made by an applicable Indian tribe. 
(3) SURFACE LEASING TRANSACTION.—The term 
‘‘surface leasing transaction’’ means a residential, 
business, agricultural, or wind or solar resource lease 
of land the title to which is held— 
(A) in trust by the United States for the 
benefit of an Indian tribe; or 
(B) in fee by an Indian tribe, subject to re-
strictions against alienation under Federal law. 
(b) APPROVAL BY SECRETARY.—The Secretary may 
approve an Indian trust asset management plan that in-
cludes a provision authorizing the Indian tribe to enter 
into, approve, and carry out a surface leasing transaction 
or forest land management activity without approval of the 
Secretary, regardless of whether the surface leasing trans-
action or forest land management activity would require 
such an approval under otherwise applicable law (including 
regulations), if— 
(1) the resolution or other action of the governing 
body of the Indian tribe referred to in section 
203(c)(2)(A) expressly authorizes the inclusion of the 
provision in the Indian trust asset management plan; 
and 
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(2) the Indian tribe has adopted regulations ex-
pressly incorporated by reference into the Indian 
trust asset management plan that— 
(A) with respect to a surface leasing trans-
action— 
(i) have been approved by the Sec-
retary pursuant to subsection (h)(4) of the 
first section of the Act of August 9, 1955 (25 
U.S.C. 415(h)(4)); or 
(ii) have not yet been approved by the 
Secretary in accordance with clause (i), but 
that the Secretary determines at or prior to 
the time of approval under this paragraph 
meet the requirements of subsection (h)(3) of 
the first section of that Act (25 U.S.C. 
415(h)(3)); or 
(B) with respect to forest land management 
activities, the Secretary determines— 
(i) are consistent with the regulations 
of the Secretary adopted under the National 
Indian Forest Resources Management Act 
(25 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.); and 
(ii) provide for an environmental re-
view process that includes— 
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leasing transaction, a forest land management activ-
ity, or both. 
(2) SELECTION OF SPECIFIC TRANSACTIONS AND 
ACTIVITIES.—At the discretion of the Indian tribe, the 
Indian tribe may include in the integrated resource 
management plan any 1 or more of the transactions 
and activities authorized to be included in the plan 
under subsection (b). 
(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may provide 
technical assistance, on request of an Indian tribe, for 
development of a regulatory environmental review 
process required under subsection (b)(2)(B)(ii). 
(2) INDIAN
SELF-DETERMINATION
AND
EDU-
CATION ASSISTANCE ACT.—The technical assistance to 
be provided by the Secretary pursuant to paragraph 
(1) may be made available through contracts, grants, 
or agreements entered into in accordance with, and 
made available to entities eligible for, contracts, 
grants, or agreements under the Indian Self-Deter-
mination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
450 et seq.). 
(e) FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.—Notwith-
standing subsection (b), if an Indian tribe carries out a 
project or activity funded by a Federal agency, the Indian 
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tribe shall have the authority to rely on the environmental 
review process of the applicable Federal agency, rather than 
any tribal environmental review process under this section. 
(f) DOCUMENTATION.—If an Indian tribe executes a 
surface leasing transaction or forest land management ac-
tivity, pursuant to tribal regulations under subsection 
(b)(2), the Indian tribe shall provide to the Secretary 
(1) a copy of the surface leasing transaction or 
forest land management activity documents, includ-
ing any amendments to, or renewals of, the applicable 
transaction; and 
(2) in the case of tribal regulations, a surface 
leasing transaction, or forest land management ac-
tivities that allow payments to be made directly to the 
Indian tribe, documentation of the payments that is 
sufficient to enable the Secretary to discharge the 
trust responsibility of the United States under sub-
section (g). 
(g) TRUST RESPONSIBILITY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The United States shall not be 
liable for losses sustained— 
(A) by an Indian tribe as a result of the 
execution of any forest land management activ-
ity pursuant to tribal regulations under sub-
section (b); or 
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(B) by any party to a lease executed pursu-
ant to tribal regulations under subsection (b). 
(2) AUTHORITY
OF
SECRETARY.—Pursuant to 
the authority of the Secretary to fulfill the trust obli-
gation of the United States to Indian tribes under 
Federal law (including regulations), the Secretary 
may, on reasonable notice from the applicable Indian 
tribe and at the discretion of the Secretary, enforce 
the provisions of, or cancel, any lease executed by the 
Indian tribe under this section. 
(h) COMPLIANCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—An interested party, after ex-
hausting any applicable tribal remedies, may submit 
to the Secretary a petition, at such time and in such 
form as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, 
to review the compliance of an applicable Indian 
tribe with any tribal regulations approved by the Sec-
retary under this subsection. 
(2) VIOLATIONS.—If the Secretary determines 
under paragraph (1) that a violation of tribal regula-
tions has occurred, the Secretary may take any action 
the Secretary determines to be necessary to remedy 
the violation, including rescinding the approval of the 
tribal regulations and reassuming responsibility for 
the approval of leases of tribal trust land. 
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(3) DOCUMENTATION.—If the Secretary deter-
mines under paragraph (1) that a violation of tribal 
regulations has occurred and a remedy is necessary, 
the Secretary shall— 
(A) make a written determination with re-
spect to the regulations that have been violated; 
(B) provide to the applicable Indian tribe a 
written notice of the alleged violation, together 
with the written determination; and 
(C) prior to the exercise of any remedy, the 
rescission of the approval of the regulation in-
volved, or the reassumption of the trust asset 
transaction approval responsibilities, provide to 
the applicable Indian tribe— 
(i) a hearing on the record; and 
(ii) a reasonable opportunity to cure 
the alleged violation. 
SEC. 206. EFFECT OF TITLE. 
(a) LIABILITY.—Subject to section 205 and this sec-
tion, nothing in this title or an Indian trust asset manage-
ment plan approved under section 204 shall independently 
diminish, increase, create, or otherwise affect the liability 
of the United States or an Indian tribe participating in 
the project for any loss resulting from the management of 
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an Indian trust asset under an Indian trust asset manage-
ment plan. 
(b) DEVIATION FROM STANDARD PRACTICES.—The 
United States shall not be liable to any party (including 
any Indian tribe) for any term of, or any loss resulting 
from the terms of, an Indian trust asset management plan 
that provides for management of a trust asset at a less- 
stringent standard than the Secretary would otherwise re-
quire or adhere to in absence of an Indian trust asset man-
agement plan. 
(c) EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF PLAN.—Subsection 
(b) applies to losses resulting from a transaction or activity 
described in that subsection even if the Indian trust asset 
management plan is terminated under section 204(d) or re-
scinded under section 205(h). 
(d) EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in sections 
204 and 205 and subsection (e), nothing in this title 
amends or otherwise affects the application of any 
treaty, statute, regulation, or Executive order that is 
applicable to Indian trust assets or the management 
or administration of Indian trust assets. 
(2) INDIAN SELF-DETERMINATION ACT.—Nothing 
in this title limits or otherwise affects the authority 
of an Indian tribe, including an Indian tribe partici-
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pating in the project, to enter into and carry out a 
contract, compact, or other agreement under the In-
dian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.) (including regulations). 
(e) SEPARATE APPROVAL.—An Indian tribe may sub-
mit to the Secretary tribal regulations described in section 
205(b) governing forest land management activities for re-
view and approval under this title if the Indian tribe does 
not submit or intend to submit an Indian trust asset man-
agement plan. 
(f) TRUST RESPONSIBILITY.—Nothing in this title en-
hances, diminishes, or otherwise affects the trust responsi-
bility of the United States to Indian tribes or individual 
Indians. 
TITLE 
III—IMPROVING 
EFFI-
CIENCY AND STREAMLINING 
PROCESSES 
SEC. 301. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this title is to ensure a more efficient 
and streamlined administration of duties of the Secretary 
of the Interior with respect to providing services and pro-
grams to Indians and Indian tribes, including the manage-
ment of Indian trust resources. 
SEC. 302. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
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(1) BIA.—The term ‘‘BIA’’ means the Bureau of 
Indian Affairs. 
(2) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ 
means the Department of the Interior. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(4) UNDER SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Under Sec-
retary’’ means the Under Secretary for Indian Affairs 
established under section 303(a). 
SEC. 303. UNDER SECRETARY FOR INDIAN AFFAIRS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF POSITION.—Notwithstanding 
any other provision of law, the Secretary may establish in 
the Department the position of Under Secretary for Indian 
Affairs, who shall report directly to the Secretary. 
(b) APPOINTMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the Under Secretary shall be appointed by 
the President, by and with the advice and consent of 
the Senate. 
(2) EXCEPTION.—The individual serving as the 
Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs on the date of 
enactment of this Act may assume the position of 
Under Secretary without appointment under para-
graph (1), if— 
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(A) that individual was appointed as As-
sistant Secretary for Indian Affairs by the Presi-
dent, by and with the advice and consent of the 
Senate; and 
(B) not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary approves 
the assumption. 
(c) DUTIES.—In addition to any other duties directed 
by the Secretary, the Under Secretary shall— 
(1) coordinate with the Special Trustee for 
American Indians to ensure an orderly transition of 
the functions of the Special Trustee to one or more 
appropriate agencies, offices, or bureaus within the 
Department, as determined by the Secretary; 
(2) to the maximum extent practicable, supervise 
and coordinate activities and policies of the BIA with 
activities and policies of— 
(A) the Bureau of Reclamation; 
(B) the Bureau of Land Management; 
(C) the Office of Natural Resources Revenue; 
(D) the National Park Service; and 
(E) the United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service; and 
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(3) provide for regular consultation with Indians 
and Indian tribes that own interests in trust re-
sources and trust fund accounts. 
(d) PERSONNEL PROVISIONS.— 
(1) APPOINTMENTS.—The Under Secretary may 
appoint and fix the compensation of such officers and 
employees as the Under Secretary determines to be 
necessary to carry out any function transferred under 
this section. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—Except as otherwise pro-
vided by law— 
(A) any officer or employee described in 
paragraph (1) shall be appointed in accordance 
with the civil service laws; 
(B) the compensation of such an officer or 
employee shall be fixed in accordance with title 
5, United States Code; and 
(C) in appointing or otherwise hiring any 
employee, the Under Secretary shall give pref-
erence to Indians in accordance with section 12 
of the Act of June 18, 1934 (25 U.S.C. 472). 
SEC. 304. OFFICE OF SPECIAL TRUSTEE FOR AMERICAN IN-
DIANS. 
(a) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Notwithstanding sections 
302 and 303 of the American Indian Trust Fund Manage-
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ment Reform Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 4042 and 4043), not 
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary shall prepare and, after consultation with In-
dian tribes and appropriate Indian organizations, submit 
to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Rep-
resentatives, the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate, 
and the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Senate a report that includes— 
(1) an identification of all functions, other than 
the collection, management, and investment of Indian 
trust funds, that the Office of the Special Trustee per-
forms independently or in concert with the BIA or 
other Federal agencies, specifically those functions 
that affect or relate to management of nonmonetary 
trust resources; 
(2) a description of any functions of the Office 
of the Special Trustee that will be transitioned to 
other bureaus or agencies within the Department 
prior to the termination date of the Office, as de-
scribed in paragraph (3), together with the time-
frames for those transfers; and 
(3) a transition plan and timetable for the ter-
mination of the Office of the Special Trustee, to occur 
not later than 2 years after the date of submission of 
the report, unless the Secretary determines than an 
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orderly transition cannot be accomplished within 2 
years, in which case the report shall include— 
(A) a statement of all reasons why the tran-
sition cannot be effected within that time; and 
(B) an alternative date for completing the 
transition. 
(b) FIDUCIARY TRUST OFFICERS.—Subject to applica-
ble law and regulations, the Secretary, at the request of an 
Indian tribe or a consortium of Indian tribes, shall include 
fiduciary trust officers in a contract, compact, or other 
agreement under the Indian Self-Determination and Edu-
cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.). 
(c) EFFECT OF SECTION.—Nothing in this section or 
the report required by this section— 
(1) shall cause the Office of the Special Trustee 
to terminate; or 
(2) affect the application of sections 302 and 303 
of the American Indian Trust Fund Management Re-
form Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 4042 and 4043). 
SEC. 305. APPRAISALS AND VALUATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding section 304, not 
later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary, in consultation with Indian tribes and 
tribal organizations, shall ensure that appraisals and valu-
ations of Indian trust property are administered by a single 
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bureau, agency, or other administrative entity within the 
Department. 
(b) MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
establish and publish in the Federal Register minimum 
qualifications for individuals to prepare appraisals and 
valuations of Indian trust property. 
(c) SECRETARIAL APPROVAL.—In any case in which 
an Indian tribe or Indian beneficiary submits to the Sec-
retary an appraisal or valuation that satisfies the min-
imum qualifications described in subsection (b), and that 
submission acknowledges the intent of the Indian tribe or 
beneficiary to have the appraisal or valuation considered 
under this section, the appraisal or valuation— 
(1) shall not require any additional review or 
approval by the Secretary; and 
(2) shall be considered to be final for purposes of 
effectuating the transaction for which the appraisal or 
valuation is required. 
SEC. 306. COST SAVINGS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—For any program, function, service, 
or activity (or any portion of a program, function, service, 
or activity) of the Office of the Special Trustee that will 
not be operated or carried out as a result of a transfer of 
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functions and personnel following enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary shall— 
(1) identify the amounts that the Secretary 
would otherwise have expended to operate or carry 
out each program, function, service, and activity (or 
portion of a program, function, service, or activity); 
and 
(2) provide to the tribal representatives of the 
Tribal-Interior Budget Council or the representative 
of any other appropriate entity that advises the Sec-
retary on Indian program budget or funding issues a 
list that describes— 
(A) the programs, functions, services, and 
activities (or any portion of a program, func-
tion, service, or activity) identified under para-
graph (1); and 
(B) the amounts associated with each pro-
gram, function, service, and activity (or portion 
of a program, function, service, or activity). 
(b) TRIBAL RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 90 
days after the date of receipt of a list under subsection 
(a)(2), the tribal representatives of the Tribal-Interior 
Budget Council and the representatives of any other appro-
priate entities that advise the Secretary on Indian program 
budget or funding issues may provide recommendations re-
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garding how any amounts or cost savings should be reallo-
cated, incorporated into future budget requests, or appro-
priated to— 
(1) the Secretary; 
(2) the Office of Management and Budget; 
(3) the Committee on Appropriations of the 
House of Representatives; 
(4) the Committee on Natural Resources of the 
House of Representatives; 
(5) the Committee on Appropriations of the Sen-
ate; and 
(6) the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Sen-
ate. 
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Union Calendar No. 329 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 812 
[Report No. 114–432] 
A BILL 
To provide for Indian trust asset management 
reform, and for other purposes. 
FEBRUARY 24, 2016 
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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