I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3654 
To authorize the integration and administrative streamlining of Federal fund-
ing for Indian Tribes that have reservations, other Tribal lands, or 
ways of life at risk due to environmental impacts and natural disasters, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 29, 2025 
Ms. RANDALL (for herself, Ms. PEREZ, Mr. SIMPSON, Ms. DAVIDS of Kansas, 
Mr. HUFFMAN, Mr. MULLIN, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Ms. STRICKLAND, and 
Mr. MOOLENAAR) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To authorize the integration and administrative streamlining 
of Federal funding for Indian Tribes that have reserva-
tions, other Tribal lands, or ways of life at risk due 
to environmental impacts and natural disasters, 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 Emergency Response Resources Act’’ or the 
‘‘TERRA 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. Statement of purpose. 
Sec. 3. Definitions. 
Sec. 4. Lead agency. 
TITLE I—PROGRAM COMPONENTS; PLAN DEVELOPMENT AND 
APPROVAL 
Sec. 101. Integration of Federal programs authorized. 
Sec. 102. Eligible Federal programs. 
Sec. 103. Activities authorized under a Plan. 
Sec. 104. Plan requirements. 
Sec. 105. Technical assistance. 
Sec. 106. Plan submission and review. 
Sec. 107. Waiver authority. 
Sec. 108. Plan approval or denial. 
TITLE II—PLAN IMPLEMENTATION; FUNDING ADMINISTRATION; 
INTERDEPARTMENTAL MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT; REPORT 
Sec. 201. Reduced reporting requirements. 
Sec. 202. Streamlined permitting and review implementation. 
Sec. 203. Expedited fee-to-trust process for Plan implementation. 
Sec. 204. Streamlined funding framework implementation. 
Sec. 205. Transfer and distribution of funds. 
Sec. 206. Administration of funds. 
Sec. 207. No reduction in amounts. 
Sec. 208. Interdepartmental memorandum of agreement. 
Sec. 209. Report required. 
SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to empower Indian Tribes 
that have reservations, other Tribal lands, or ways of life 
at risk due to environmental impacts and natural disas-
ters, including but not limited to flooding, erosion, sea 
level rise, permafrost degradation, ocean acidification, ex-
tended drought, extreme temperatures, tsunamis, storm 
surges, and more frequent and severe wildfires, hurri-
canes, and tornadoes, to integrate funding from multiple 
eligible Federal programs into comprehensive Plans de-
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signed to meet the needs of those Indian Tribes and their 
communities with respect to preventing or addressing 
those environmental impacts or natural disasters, includ-
ing by community-driven relocation, if applicable, while— 
(1) reducing administrative, reporting, and ac-
counting costs; and 
(2) serving Tribally determined goals consistent 
with the policy of self-determination, the unique 
Government-to-Government relationship between the 
Government of the United States and the Govern-
ments of Indian Tribes, and the unique Federal 
trust responsibility to Indian Tribes and Indian peo-
ple assumed by the United States, including all Fed-
eral agencies. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
For the purposes of this Act: 
(1) AFFECTED AGENCY.—The term ‘‘affected 
agency’’ means a Federal agency that administers a 
program that has been integrated, or is being pro-
posed for integration, into a Plan. 
(2) 
COMMUNITY-DRIVEN
RELOCATION.—The 
term ‘‘community-driven relocation’’ means any vol-
untary, Tribally led climate adaptation strategy that 
may involve moving all or part of a Tribal commu-
nity from an area prone to environmental hazards to 
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a safer area, such as plans and projects for protect- 
in-place, managed retreat, and full-scale relocation 
efforts, which may include, but are not limited to, 
demolition and construction of new housing, utilities, 
and infrastructure. 
(3) COORDINATED PROJECT SCHEDULE.—The 
term ‘‘coordinated project schedule’’ means the co-
ordinated project schedule required under section 
202(c)(1). 
(4) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ 
means the Department of the Interior. 
(5) FEDERAL
AGENCY.—The term ‘‘Federal 
agency’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘agency’’ 
in section 551 of title 5, United States Code. 
(6) FEDERAL
PARTNER.—The term ‘‘Federal 
partner’’ means each of— 
(A) the Department; 
(B) the Department of Agriculture; 
(C) the Department of Commerce; 
(D) the Department of Defense; 
(E) the Department of Energy; 
(F) the Department of Health and Human 
Services; 
(G) the Department of Homeland Security; 
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(H) the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development; 
(I) the Department of Justice; 
(J) the Department of Transportation; 
(K) the Department of the Treasury; 
(L) the Environmental Protection Agency; 
(M) the Federal Communications Commis-
sion; 
(N) the Federal Energy Regulatory Com-
mission; 
(O) the Advisory Council on Historic Pres-
ervation; and 
(P) any other Federal agency that operates 
a program that is proposed by an Indian Tribe 
and determined eligible by the Secretary for in-
tegration into a Plan under this Act. 
(7) FEDERAL PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Federal 
program’’ means any Federal program or Federal 
funding source that an Indian Tribe integrates or 
seeks to integrate into the Plan of the Indian Tribe. 
(8) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
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(9) NEPA.—The term ‘‘NEPA’’ means the Na-
tional Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.). 
(10) PARTICIPATING AGENCY.—The term ‘‘par-
ticipating agency’’ means a Federal agency that, re-
gardless of whether the Federal agency is a Federal 
partner or an affected agency— 
(A) has review, permitting, or other au-
thorization responsibility with respect to the 
services or activities to be carried out under a 
Plan, including but not limited to responsibil-
ities that require review under NEPA, section 
306108 of title 54, United States Code (com-
monly known as the ‘‘National Historic Preser-
vation Act’’), or other applicable Federal law; 
(B) is designated by the Secretary as a 
participating agency for that Plan; and 
(C) participates in the streamlined permit-
ting and review procedures for implementing 
that Plan, in accordance with section 202. 
(11) PLAN.—The term ‘‘Plan’’ means a Plan 
authorized under this Act. 
(12) 
SECRETARY.—The 
term 
‘‘Secretary’’ 
means the Secretary of the Interior. 
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(13) 
TRADITIONAL
ECOLOGICAL
KNOWL-
EDGE.—The term ‘‘Traditional Ecological Knowl-
edge’’ means a body of observations, oral and writ-
ten knowledge, innovations, practices, and beliefs de-
veloped by Indian Tribes through long-term inter-
action and experience with the environment passed 
from generation to generation, that continues to 
evolve and may only be obtained with an Indian 
Tribe’s free, prior, and informed consent. 
SEC. 4. LEAD AGENCY. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law— 
(1) the lead Federal agency responsible for im-
plementation of this Act is the Department; and 
(2) unless otherwise provided in this Act, the 
Secretary possesses sole and exclusive decision-
making authority for all Federal actions under this 
Act, including but not limited to the sole and exclu-
sive authority to determine whether a Federal pro-
gram is eligible for integration into a Plan. 
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TITLE 
I—PROGRAM 
COMPO-
NENTS; PLAN DEVELOPMENT 
AND APPROVAL 
SEC. 101. INTEGRATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS AUTHOR-
IZED. 
The Secretary shall, on approving a proposed Plan 
submitted by an Indian Tribe under this Act, authorize 
the Indian Tribe, in accordance with the Plan, to— 
(1) integrate funding from eligible Federal pro-
grams (referred to in this section as the ‘‘integrated 
Federal programs’’), including but not limited to im-
plementing any waivers of statutory, regulatory, and 
administrative requirements, regulations, policies, 
and procedures granted under section 107; 
(2) carry out the core services and activities 
that would otherwise be provided through the inte-
grated Federal programs in accordance with the des-
ignated purposes of the Plan; 
(3) reallocate, reprogram, consolidate, or re-
budget funds from the integrated Federal programs, 
as needed, among the various services and activities 
to be carried out under the Plan in accordance with 
the designated purposes of the Plan, without the 
need for any waiver to be granted under section 107; 
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(4) if appropriate, and in accordance with the 
designated purposes of the Plan, reallocate, repro-
gram, consolidate, or rebudget some or all of the 
funds from the integrated Federal programs to costs 
associated with community-driven relocation; and 
(5) provide a single report each year, based on 
the model report developed under section 201(b)— 
(A) in lieu of reporting, recordkeeping, au-
diting, or similar requirements or procedures 
associated with the integrated Federal pro-
grams; and 
(B) without the need for a waiver to be 
granted under section 107. 
SEC. 102. ELIGIBLE FEDERAL PROGRAMS. 
For a Federal program to be eligible for integration 
into a Plan, the following criteria must be met with respect 
to the purpose and nature of funding: 
(1) PURPOSE.—An Indian Tribe plans to imple-
ment the Federal program for a purpose that helps 
to address environmental resiliency, which may in-
clude, but is not limited to, advancing such purpose 
through— 
(A) climate resilience, mitigation, or com-
munity-driven relocation; 
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(B) disaster relief, preparedness, or pre-
vention; 
(C) environmental remediation; 
(D) housing; 
(E) infrastructure maintenance or develop-
ment; 
(F) economic development; 
(G) land management (including but not 
limited to purchasing, leasing, and fee-to-trust); 
(H) capacity building; 
(I) real estate services; 
(J) natural resources management or de-
velopment; 
(K) energy or utility services; 
(L) public health or welfare; and 
(M) any purpose relating to, or otherwise 
supporting or facilitating, a purpose described 
in subparagraphs (A) through (L). 
(2) NATURE OF FUNDING.—The funding of the 
Federal program is provided to an Indian Tribe 
based on at least one of the following: 
(A) The eligibility of an Indian Tribe or 
members of an Indian Tribe to receive funds— 
(i) under a statutory or administrative 
formula making funds available to the In-
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dian Tribe or members of the Indian 
Tribe; or 
(ii) based solely or in part on the sta-
tus of the Indian Tribe or members of the 
Indian Tribe as Indians under Federal law. 
(B) The fact that an Indian Tribe or mem-
bers of an Indian Tribe have secured funds as 
a result of a noncompetitive process or a spe-
cific designation. 
(C) A competitive process under which In-
dian Tribes are designated eligible recipients, 
regardless of whether the competitive funding is 
for the benefit of the Indian Tribe because of 
the status of the Indian Tribe or the status of 
the beneficiaries the funding serves. 
(D) Block grant funds provided to an In-
dian Tribe, regardless of whether the block 
grant is for the benefit of the Indian Tribe be-
cause of the status of the Indian Tribe or the 
status of the beneficiaries the grant serves. 
SEC. 103. ACTIVITIES AUTHORIZED UNDER A PLAN. 
Federal funding integrated into a Plan shall be ex-
pended (including but not limited to reallocating, re-
programming, consolidating, or rebudgeting the funds) for 
purposes— 
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(1) consistent with the core services or activities 
that otherwise would have been provided or carried 
out under the Federal programs integrated into the 
Plan; or 
(2) relating to community-driven relocation. 
SEC. 104. PLAN REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—A Plan submitted by an Indian 
Tribe to the Secretary for approval shall— 
(1) identify the Federal programs to be inte-
grated into the Plan; 
(2) be consistent with the purpose of this Act; 
(3) describe, at the option of the Indian 
Tribe— 
(A) the nature and severity of the environ-
ment-related threats to the existing reservation, 
other Tribal lands, or ways of life of the Indian 
Tribe; and 
(B) if applicable, a strategy for commu-
nity-driven relocation to be addressed by the 
Plan, that identifies— 
(i) the general location of the pro-
posed relocation efforts; and 
(ii) a summary of geospatial informa-
tion, if available, illustrating— 
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(I) the proposed relocation area; 
and 
(II) if applicable, the locations of 
environmental, cultural, and historic 
resources; 
(4) describe the way in which Federal program 
funds and services are to be integrated, consolidated, 
and delivered to provide services and carry out ac-
tivities under the designated purposes of the Plan, 
including but not limited to provisions that detail 
how funding sources are anticipated to be coordi-
nated, consistent with section 204(b); 
(5) identify any need for taking land into trust 
for the benefit of the Indian Tribe for environment- 
related purposes, pursuant to section 203; 
(6) identify the projected expenditures under 
the Plan in a single budget covering all consolidated 
funds; 
(7) identify any Federal environmental or his-
toric preservation reviews, permits, or other author-
izations anticipated to be required to be completed 
or obtained to implement the Plan, including but not 
limited to any reviews that may be required under 
NEPA or section 306108 of title 54, United States 
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Code (commonly known as the ‘‘National Historic 
Preservation Act’’); 
(8) identify any statutory, regulatory, or admin-
istrative requirements, regulations, policies, or proce-
dures that the Indian Tribe believes need to be 
waived to efficiently and effectively implement the 
Plan; and 
(9) be approved by the governing body of the 
Indian Tribe, by resolution or other applicable 
means. 
(b) 
CONFIDENTIALITY.—Traditional 
Ecological 
Knowledge, including but not limited to information relat-
ing to natural, cultural, and historical resources, sub-
mitted in a Plan shall be— 
(1) kept confidential; and 
(2) exempt from the disclosure requirements 
under— 
(A) section 552(b)(3) of title 5, United 
States Code (commonly known as the ‘‘Freedom 
of Information Act’’); 
(B) chapter 10 of part I of title 5, United 
States Code (commonly known as the ‘‘Federal 
Advisory Committee Act’’); 
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(C) the Open, Public, Electronic, and Nec-
essary Government Data Act (title II of Public 
Law 115–435); 
(D) NEPA; and 
(E) similar disclosure statutes and require-
ments, as applicable. 
SEC. 105. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—On request of an Indian Tribe, 
the Secretary shall provide technical assistance to the In-
dian Tribe with respect to any phase or aspect of a Plan, 
including but not limited to— 
(1) project planning and design to develop a 
proposed Plan for submission; and 
(2) review by the Secretary of a draft proposed 
Plan, in accordance with subsection (b). 
(b) REVIEW BY SECRETARY.—If an Indian Tribe re-
quests review of a draft proposed Plan under subsection 
(a)(2), the Secretary shall— 
(1) identify any issues or missing information 
that may prevent the approval of the draft proposed 
Plan; and 
(2) provide followup technical assistance to re-
solve any issues identified in paragraph (1), as ap-
plicable. 
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(c) REVIEW NOT A DECISION.—A review of a draft 
proposed Plan under subsection (b) shall not constitute 
an official Federal agency determination or decision. 
(d) AGENCY CONSULTATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In providing technical assist-
ance under subsection (a), on request of the Indian 
Tribe receiving technical assistance, or as the Sec-
retary determines appropriate, the Secretary shall 
consult with any Federal agencies anticipated to be 
affected agencies or participating agencies with re-
spect to the applicable Plan. 
(2) SCOPE.—Federal agencies with which the 
Secretary consults under paragraph (1) shall provide 
technical assistance with respect to any requested 
phase or aspect of a Plan, including but not limited 
to— 
(A) waiver requests under section 107; 
(B) streamlined funding frameworks under 
section 204; and 
(C) coordinated project scheduling under 
section 202(c). 
SEC. 106. PLAN SUBMISSION AND REVIEW. 
(a) LETTER OF INTENT.—An Indian Tribe shall no-
tify the Secretary, in writing, of the intent of the Indian 
Tribe to prepare a proposed Plan. 
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(b) PLAN CONSULTATION.—On receipt of notice from 
an Indian Tribe under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
consult with the Indian Tribe— 
(1) to identify potential Federal programs that 
may be integrated into the proposed Plan; and 
(2) to identify any waivers of applicable statu-
tory, regulatory, or administrative requirements, reg-
ulations, policies, or procedures necessary to enable 
the Indian Tribe to efficiently and effectively imple-
ment the proposed Plan. 
(c) PLAN SUBMISSION.—A proposed Plan submitted 
by an Indian Tribe to the Secretary shall satisfy the re-
quirements of this Act. 
SEC. 107. WAIVER AUTHORITY. 
(a) TRIBAL WAIVER REQUEST.—In consultation with 
the Secretary, an Indian Tribe submitting a proposed Plan 
may include in the proposed Plan a request that the head 
of an affected agency waive any statutory, regulatory, or 
administrative requirement, regulation, policy, or proce-
dure that the Indian Tribe considers necessary to enable 
the Indian Tribe to efficiently and effectively implement 
the proposed Plan. 
(b) WAIVER AUTHORITY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, but subject to paragraph (2), the 
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head of an affected agency shall waive any applica-
ble statutory, regulatory, or administrative require-
ment, regulation, policy, or procedure for which an 
Indian Tribe has requested a waiver under sub-
section (a), including but not limited to— 
(A) matching requirements; 
(B) competition procedures and other com-
petitive funding requirements; 
(C) formula funding limitations; 
(D) repayment obligations; 
(E) requirements to partner with a State 
or local government or agency, or community 
organization; 
(F) deadlines; and 
(G) any statutory requirements that may 
be interpreted to prevent— 
(i) the Indian Tribe from receiving 
funds 
from 
multiple, 
or 
overlapping, 
sources of Federal funding; or 
(ii) the creation by the head of the af-
fected agency of a funding set-aside for In-
dian Tribes. 
(2) LIMITATION.—A waiver requested by an In-
dian Tribe under paragraph (1) shall not be granted 
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if the head of the affected agency determines grant-
ing the waiver will be inconsistent with— 
(A) the purpose of this Act; or 
(B) the provision of law from which the 
Federal program included in the Plan derives 
its authority that is specifically applicable to In-
dians. 
(c) WAIVER SUBMISSION AND REVIEW.— 
(1) DETERMINATION ON WAIVER REQUEST.— 
Not later than 45 days after the date on which an 
Indian Tribe submits a waiver request under sub-
section (a), the head of the affected agency shall— 
(A) make a determination on whether to 
grant or deny the request; and 
(B) provide written notice of the deter-
mination and the reasons for the determination 
to the requesting Indian Tribe and the Sec-
retary. 
(2) DEEMED APPROVAL.—If the head of an af-
fected agency does not provide written notice to the 
Indian Tribe of a determination on a waiver request 
within the 45-day period described in paragraph (1), 
the waiver request shall be deemed to be granted. 
(3) INTERAGENCY DISPUTE RESOLUTION.— 
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(A) IN GENERAL.—On request of an In-
dian Tribe that submitted a waiver request 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall ini-
tiate an interagency dispute resolution process 
involving— 
(i) the Secretary; 
(ii) the Indian Tribe; and 
(iii) the head of the affected agency. 
(B) TIMELINE.—A dispute initiated under 
subparagraph (A) shall be resolved not later 
than 30 days after the date on which the proc-
ess is initiated under that subparagraph. 
(C) FINAL
AUTHORITY.—If the dispute 
resolution process fails to resolve the dispute 
between the Indian Tribe and the affected 
agency, the head of the affected agency shall 
have the final authority to resolve the dispute. 
(D) NOTICE TO INDIAN TRIBE.—Not later 
than 10 days after the date on which the dis-
pute is resolved under this paragraph, the Sec-
retary shall provide the Indian Tribe with— 
(i) the final determination on the 
waiver request; and 
(ii) notice of the right to file a civil 
action in accordance with section 108(f). 
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SEC. 108. PLAN APPROVAL OR DENIAL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall have the sole 
and exclusive authority to approve or disapprove— 
(1) a Plan submitted by an Indian Tribe; and 
(2) the integration of individual Federal pro-
grams into the Plan. 
(b) PRESUMPTION OF APPROVAL.—Because Plans 
promote the policy of self-determination, the Secretary 
shall review Plans with the presumption of approval. 
(c) APPROVAL OR DENIAL PROCESS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in sub-
section (d), not later than 90 days after the date on 
which the Secretary receives a proposed Plan sub-
mitted by an Indian Tribe, the Secretary shall— 
(A) approve or deny the Plan; and 
(B) provide written notice of that decision 
to the Indian Tribe. 
(2) APPROVAL.—If the Secretary approves a 
Plan, the Secretary shall authorize the transfer and 
distribution of funds associated with the Federal 
programs integrated into the Plan. 
(3) DENIAL.—If the Secretary denies a Plan, 
the Secretary shall provide to the Indian Tribe writ-
ten notification of disapproval that— 
(A) contains a specific finding that clearly 
demonstrates, or that is supported by control-
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ling legal authority, that the Plan does not 
meet the requirements of this Act; and 
(B) clearly states any objections contrib-
uting to the denial. 
(4) PARTIAL APPROVAL.—If the Secretary de-
termines a Plan cannot be approved in its entirety, 
the Secretary shall approve, with the consent of the 
applicable Indian Tribe, any portion of the Plan that 
can be approved and deny any portion of the pro-
posed Plan that cannot be approved, pursuant to the 
processes described in paragraph (5). 
(5) DENIAL PENDING WAIVER APPROVAL.— 
(A) PARTIAL APPROVAL.—If a Plan is de-
nied under paragraph (3) solely on the basis 
that a waiver request that is part of the Plan 
has not been approved or is subject to dispute 
resolution under section 107, on request of the 
applicable Indian Tribe, the Secretary shall 
grant partial approval for those portions of the 
Plan not affected by the waiver request. 
(B) APPROVAL AFTER RESOLUTION.—With 
respect to a Plan described in subparagraph 
(A), upon approval or resolution of the waiver 
request under section 107 and on request of the 
applicable Indian Tribe, the Secretary shall ap-
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prove the Plan or amended Plan not later than 
45 days after the date on which the Secretary 
receives the request. 
(6) DEEMED APPROVAL.—If the Secretary does 
not provide written notice to an Indian Tribe of a 
decision on a Plan within the 90-day period de-
scribed in paragraph (1), the Plan shall be deemed 
approved. 
(d) EXTENSION OF TIME.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
the Secretary may extend or otherwise alter the 90- 
day period described in subsection (c)(1) if, before 
expiration of the original 90-day period, the Sec-
retary obtains the express written consent of the In-
dian Tribe that submitted the applicable Plan. 
(2) EXTENSION RESTRICTIONS.—An extension 
or alteration of the 90-day period under paragraph 
(1) may only be— 
(A) provided once; and 
(B) for a period of not more than 90 days. 
(e) REVIEW OF DENIAL.—In addition to the require-
ments of subsection (c)(3), if the Secretary denies or par-
tially denies a proposed Plan the Secretary shall— 
(1) provide technical assistance to the applica-
ble Indian Tribe with respect to the denied proposed 
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group described in subsection (b)(1)(B) or any Federal 
agency coordinating with that Tribal working group. 
(d) DETAIL
OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—An em-
ployee of the Federal Government may be detailed to the 
Department for the purposes of carrying out this Act with-
out reimbursement and without interruption or loss of civil 
service status or privilege. 
SEC. 209. REPORT REQUIRED. 
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with affected 
agencies and representatives of Indian Tribes, shall sub-
mit to the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate and 
the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Rep-
resentatives a report on the status of the implementation 
of this Act. 
Æ 
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