Indian Community Economic Enhancement Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-1937
Sponsor: Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35]
Introduced: 2019-03-27 in the House
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Business education
Business investment and capital
Congressional oversight
Credit and credit markets
Department of Commerce
Economic development
Federal-Indian relations
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
Housing and community development funding
Indian social and development programs
Minority and disadvantaged businesses
Minority employment
Public contracts and procurement
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-27
text: 

Indian Community Economic Enhancement Act of 2019

 
This bill makes several revisions related to economic development for Native American communities.
 
Specifically, the bill establishes duties for the Office of Native American Business Development, including (1) advising the Department of Commerce regarding the relationship between the United States and Indian tribes; and (2) serving as the point of contact for tribes, tribal organizations, and members of tribes regarding economic development and doing business in Indian lands.
 
The bill also requires coordination between Commerce, the Department of the Interior, and the Department of the Treasury to support economic development in Native American communities.
 
 Under the bill, assistance from the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund benefiting Native American institutions does not require matching funds.
 
The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to use Native American labor and purchase Native American industry products, unless Interior or HHS determines it would be impracticable and unreasonable to do so. Among other requirements, HHS and Interior must conduct outreach to Indian industrial entities in the implementation of enterprise development.
 
Additionally, the bill authorizes the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) to provide financial assistance to Native American community development financial institutions. ANA must give priority for financial assistance to applicants whose programs seek to develop (1) tribal codes and court systems relating to economic development, (2) tribal business structures, (3) community development financial institutions, or (4) tribal master plans for community and economic development and infrastructure.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States.
action_date: 2019-03-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, 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.
action_date: 2019-03-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, 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.
action_date: 2019-03-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-03-27
text: Introduced in House