jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Public Lands — Indigenous Affairs
Subject: Native Americans
Date: 2015-06-16 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on April 25, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act or the NATIVE Act

(Sec. 4) This bill requires the Department of Commerce, the Department of the Interior, and federal agencies with recreational travel or tourism functions to update their management plans and tourism initiatives to include Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations.

The plans must outline proposals to:

 improve travel and tourism data collection and analysis, increase the usability of public information and federal websites, support national tourism goals, identify programs that could support tourism infrastructure in Native American communities, develop visitor portals and assets that showcase and respect the diversity of Native Americans, share local Native American heritage through the development of bilingual signage, and improve access to transportation programs for building capacity for Native American community tourism and trade. Interior and Commerce must: (1) work with a facilitator to provide technical assistance to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations regarding participation in the tourism industry, and (2) report on departmental efforts supporting such participation.

(Sec. 5) Federal agencies must: (1) support Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations in showcasing their history, culture, and continuing vitality, enhancing or maintaining their distinctive cultural features, and providing authentic and respectful visitor experiences; (2) assist in interpreting the connections between Native Americans and the national identity of the United States; (3) enhance efforts to promote understanding and respect for diverse cultures in the United States and the relevance of those cultures; and (4) ensure that travelers at airports and ports of entry are welcomed in a manner that both showcases and respects the diversity of Native American communities.

Grants relating to travel, recreation, or tourism for which Indian tribes, tribal organizations, or Native Hawaiian organizations are eligible may be used to: (1) support their efforts to present their story and culture, (2) revitalize Native American communities using the arts and humanities, and (3) carry out this Act.

The Smithsonian Institution must work with Indian tribes, tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations, and nonprofits to share collections and conduct joint research and projects with museums, educational organizations, and cultural organizations.
Topic: Public Lands — Indigenous Affairs
Subject: Native Americans
Date: 2015-07-09 00:00:00

Extracurricular Programs for Indian Children Act of 2015

This bill amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to require the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide grants for before-school, after-school, and summer school programs for Indian and Alaska Native students. Entities eligible for grants include Indian tribes, local educational agencies with more than 10% Indian or Alaska Native students, schools within Indian reservations, tribal colleges and universities, and tribal nonprofit organizations.

Grants may be used for activities that advance or improve student academic achievement and well-being, including education activities, Native language and culture programs, physical fitness activities, programs that promote parental involvement, substance abuse and violence prevention programs, health and mental health services, and transportation services.

The bill amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to make entities that are eligible for the grants in this Act eligible for the school lunch program, summer food service program for children, child and adult care food program, and school breakfast program.
Topic: Public Lands — Indigenous Affairs
Subject: Native Americans
Date: 2015-07-14 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

(Sec. 1) This bill takes into trust for the benefit of the Susanville Indian Rancheria approximately 301 acres of federal land under the administrative jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management of the Department of the Interior, including improvements and appurtenances, in Lassen County, California.

Certain gaming on these lands is prohibited.
Topic: Public Lands — Indigenous Affairs
Subject: Health
Date: 2015-07-15 00:00:00

Tribal Employment and Jobs Protection Act 

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the definition of "applicable large employer" for purposes of the employer health care mandate under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA): (1) any Indian tribal government or subdivision, (2) any tribal organization, or (3) any corporation or partnership if more than 50% of the equity interest of such an entity is owned by an Indian tribal government or tribal organization. An applicable large employer is defined by PPACA as an employer who employs 50 or more full-time employees who provide services on average at least 30 hours per week.
Topic: Public Lands — Indigenous Affairs
Subject: Native Americans
Date: 2015-07-15 00:00:00

Tribal Infrastructure and Roads Enhancement and Safety Act or the TIRES Act

(Sec. 3) This bill modifies the approval process used for certain transportation projects on Indian reservations by allowing categorical exclusions from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements.

A "categorical exclusion" is a category of actions which do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment and which have been found to have no such effect in procedures adopted by a federal agency in implementing environmental regulations and for which, therefore, neither an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required.

A "tribal transportation safety project" is one that is eligible for assistance under the tribal transportation program and that:

 corrects or improves a hazardous road location or feature, or addresses a highway safety problem. The Department of the Interior shall review existing categorical exclusions for tribal transportation program projects and identify tribal transportation safety projects that meet categorical exclusion requirements.

The bill prescribes requirements for the expedited review and approval of tribal transportation safety projects under NEPA or other federal laws.

(Sec. 4) Interior shall enter into five-year programmatic agreements with Indian tribes that establish efficient administrative procedures for carrying out environmental reviews for tribal transportation projects, including whether any project is categorically excluded from the preparation of an environmental assessment or impact statement under NEPA.
Topic: Public Lands — Indigenous Affairs
Subject: Native Americans
Date: 2015-07-21 00:00:00

(Sec. 1) All U.S. interests in approximately 80 acres of specified U.S. Forest Service land located in Tuolumne County, California, must be held in trust for the benefit of the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians. Gaming is not permitted on this land.
Topic: Public Lands — Indigenous Affairs
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2015-07-30 00:00:00

Native American Voting Rights Act of 2015

This bill prohibits states and local governments from:

 eliminating the only polling place or voter registration site on an Indian reservation; moving or consolidating a polling place or voter registration site located on an Indian reservation to a location one mile or further from the existing one; moving or consolidating a polling place on an Indian reservation to a location across a natural boundary if that makes travel difficult for a voter, regardless of distance; eliminating in-person voting on an Indian reservation by designating an Indian reservation as a permanent absentee voting location, unless the entire state is or becomes a permanent absentee voting state or the Indian tribe requests such a designation; removing an early voting location or otherwise diminishing early voting opportunities on an Indian reservation; or decreasing the number of days or hours that an in-person or early voting location is open on an Indian reservation or changing the dates of in-person or early voting on an Indian reservation. Requirements for exceptions to such prohibitions are prescribed.

Each of the states whose territory contains all or part of an Indian reservation shall designate, for each Indian tribe of each Indian reservation, an officer within that state responsible for compliance with this Act.

Any state whose territory contains all or part of an Indian reservation shall provide one or more polling places for each Indian tribe satisfying certain obligations.

In states that provide for early voting a state or local election official shall provide upon request at least one early voting location on an Indian reservation.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is amended to require the Office of Personnel Management to assign an appropriate number of observers whenever the Attorney General receives a written complaint from an Indian tribe that efforts to deny or abridge the right to vote under the color of law on account of race or color, or in contravention of specified guarantees, are likely to occur.
Topic: Public Lands — Indigenous Affairs
Subject: Education
Date: 2015-08-04 00:00:00

Native Educator Support and Training Act or the NEST Act 

This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish scholarships, loan forgiveness plans, and training programs for educators who commit to teaching in Native American or Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools.

This bill establishes three scholarship programs for students who are seeking degrees in education or school administration at institutions of higher education and commit to teaching in Native American or BIE schools:

 the Indian Student Educator Scholarship Program for students seeking degrees, the Indian Educator Scholarship Program for Indian students seeking degrees, and the Indian Educator Graduate Fellowship Program for Indian students seeking graduate degrees. Recipients of the scholarships must commit to working for a BIE school, a school serving Native Americans, or other specified schools and agencies for the greater of three years or the number of school years that the scholarship funded.

The bill establishes loan forgiveness programs for educators and Native Americans who have taught for at least five consecutive years at BIE schools or local educational agencies with high percentages of Native American students.

The bill extends the federal Perkins Loan Cancellation Program to educators teaching in BIE schools or in Native American language immersion programs.

The bill authorizes professional development grants for native-serving elementary and secondary schools. It also establishes the Native American Language Teacher Training Program to provide grants for institutions of higher education to develop training programs for Native American immersion and language teachers.
Topic: Public Lands — Indigenous Affairs
Subject: Native Americans
Date: 2015-08-04 00:00:00

This bill: (1) reaffirms the trust status of land taken into trust by the United States under the Indian Reorganization Act before enactment of this Act for an Indian tribe that was federally recognized on the date the land was taken into trust, and (2) ratifies and confirms any action of the Department of the Interior in acquiring and taking land into trust under such Act as if the action had been specifically authorized and directed by prior Act of Congress.

Any land taken into trust that has been ratified and confirmed by this Act shall remain Indian country.

This bill shall apply to all claims (including claims challenging the validity of title or the effectiveness of any action of Interior acquiring and taking land into trust) pending on, or filed on or after, the date of the enactment of this Act.
Topic: Public Lands — Indigenous Affairs
Subject: Native Americans
Date: 2015-08-05 00:00:00

Alaska Native Veterans Land Allotment Equity Act

 Amends the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) to declare that any allotment application pending before the Department of the Interior on December 18, 1971, that was closed by the Department pursuant to the civil action Shields v. United States shall be reopened and considered to be approved.

Revises requirements for the eligibility of Alaska Native Vietnam veterans for an allotment. Extends eligibility for allotments to veterans who served between August 5, 1964, and May 7, 1975.

Allows eligible persons to file for allotments of up to two parcels of federal land (as under current law) totaling up to 160 acres.

Eliminates the limitation of these allotments to lands that were vacant, unappropriated, and unreserved on the date when the person eligible for the allotment first used and occupied them.

Allows allotments to be selected from vacant federal lands or lands that have been selected or conveyed to the state of Alaska or a Native Corporation, if the state or Corporation voluntarily relinquishes or conveys the land to the United States for allotment.

Limits the exclusions from lands that may be selected for allotments to: (1) lands in the right-of-way of the TransAlaska Pipeline; (2) the inner or outer corridor of such a right-of-way; or (3) a unit of the National Park System, a National Preserve, or a National Monument.

 Allows an heir of a deceased eligible veteran, regardless of the cause of death, to apply for and receive the allotment.

Permits any person who made an allotment selection under ANCSA before this Act's enactment to withdraw it and reselect lands if those originally selected were not conveyed to that person before this Act's enactment.
Topic: Public Lands — Indigenous Affairs
Subject: Native Americans
Date: 2015-08-05 00:00:00

Bring the Ancient One Home Act of 2015

This bill directs the Chief of the Army Corps of Engineers to transfer the human remains known as Kennewick Man or the Ancient One that are part of archaeological collection number 45BN495 to the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation on the condition that such Department disposes of and repatriates the remains to the Indian tribes and band referred to in the letter from Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt to Secretary of the Army Louis Caldera relating to the human remains, dated September 21, 2000.

The Corps of Engineers shall be responsible for any costs associated with the transfer.
Topic: Public Lands — Indigenous Affairs
Subject: Native Americans
Date: 2015-08-05 00:00:00

Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians Water Rights Settlement Act

Authorizes, ratifies, and confirms the Pechanga Settlement Agreement, entered into by the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians, the Rancho California Water District (RCWD), and the United States, except to the extent that it is modified by or conflicts with this Act.

Confirms a Tribal Water Right that must be held in trust by the United States on behalf of the Band and its allottees. (Allottees are individuals who hold a beneficial real property interest in an Indian allotment that is located within the reservation and held in trust by the United States.)

Authorizes allottees to lease their lands together with any water right.

Requires the Band to enact a Pechanga Water Code that governs the storage, recovery, and use of the Tribal Water Right, subject to the Department of the Interior's approval.

Directs the Band and the United States (acting as trustee for the Band and allottees), to waive all claims for water rights within the Santa Margarita River Watershed.

States that the Band and the United States (acting as trustee for the Band), waive specified claims against the RCWD.

Authorizes the waiver of claims by the Band against the United States regarding specified water rights and damages.

Establishes in the Treasury the Pechanga Settlement Fund.

 Makes this Act enforceable on the date Interior publishes specified findings regarding despoits and approved agreements. Repeals this Act and voids any related agreements on May 1, 2021, or an alternative later date agreed to by the Band and Interior, if Interior does not publish those findings.

Prohibits Interior from being liable for failing to carry out any obligation or activity under this Act if there are insufficient appropriations.
Topic: Public Lands — Indigenous Affairs
Subject: Native Americans
Date: 2015-08-05 00:00:00

Keeping out Illegal Drugs Act of 2015 or the KIDs Act of 2015

This bill prohibits any Indian tribe or a tribal organization from: (1) cultivating, manufacturing, or distributing marijuana on Indian lands; (2) knowingly or intentionally allowing the cultivation, manufacture, or distribution of marijuana on Indian lands; or (3) failing to prosecute, or to notify the appropriate federal official regarding, an individual or entity who is discovered to be cultivating, manufacturing, or distributing marijuana on Indian lands or failing to destroy the relevant marijuana crop in accordance with federal law.

No funds authorized or appropriated by federal law shall be made available to an Indian tribe or a tribal organization determined to have violated this Act until such tribe or tribal organization has remedied the violation and achieved compliance with this Act.
Topic: Public Lands — Indigenous Affairs
Subject: Native Americans
Date: 2015-09-09 00:00:00

This bill amends the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to recognize Alexander Creek as a Native village. Currently, Alexander Creek is recognized as a Native group. (Under the Act, a Native village is entitled to more land than a Native group.)

Alexander Creek must file any amendments to its corporate charter that are necessary to convert from a Native group to a Native village.

The Department of the Interior must negotiate with Alexander Creek to fairly and equitably settle aboriginal land claims and any other claims against the United States.

Alexander Creek must notify its members that the Cook Inlet regional corporation will make future payments to the village instead of to individual members. The regional corporation is not liable for damages related to cessation of payments to individual members of Alexander Creek.
Topic: Public Lands — Indigenous Affairs
Subject: Native Americans
Date: 2015-10-22 00:00:00

Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts Act of 2015

This bill permits the Department of Justice (DOJ) to award grants to tribal governments acting in partnership with state or local governments for tribal healing to wellness courts. (A tribal healing to wellness court is a drug court that is a component of a tribal justice system and includes substance abuse treatment and may include cultural activities.)

Courts receiving grants must monitor individuals under their jurisdiction and must periodically test each individual for drug use. DOJ may require these courts to increase punitive or treatment responses for an individual who fails a drug test.

Violent offenders may not be under the jurisdiction of these courts unless the court has received a waiver from DOJ.
Topic: Public Lands — Indigenous Affairs
Subject: Native Americans
Date: 2015-11-18 00:00:00

Tribal Early Childhood, Education, and Related Services Integration Act of 2015

This bill amends the Native American Programs Act of 1974 to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a demonstration program to support tribal early childhood education demonstration projects. Funding for projects is through existing programs that have a purpose consistent with the purpose of the demonstration program. HHS may waive certain provisions of law, policy, or procedure related to the programs providing funding for projects.

Demonstration projects must be: (1) carried out by an Indian tribe, a tribal organization, or a consortium with a tribe or tribal organization as its primary member; (2) designed around new approaches that address tribal community needs and improve early childhood education and services; and (3) focused on Native culture, culturally based early childhood education, and related services.

HHS must make grants to demonstration projects to: (1) build or upgrade facilities for early childhood care and development, and (2) reimburse early childhood educators who fulfill a period of obligated service for costs associated with obtaining early childhood certification or credentials.

This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to revise federal student loan forgiveness and loan cancellation for teachers to increase the maximum amounts of loan forgiveness and cancellation that may be provided to early childhood teachers in programs operated by Indian tribes or serving a large percentage of Indian children. Cancellation of student loans for public service is expanded to include service in Indian prekindergarten, child care programs, or early childhood learning and development centers.
Topic: Public Lands — Indigenous Affairs
Subject: Native Americans
Date: 2016-01-27 00:00:00

Safe Academic Facilities and Environments for Tribal Youth Act or the SAFETY Act

This bill directs the Department of the Interior to carry out a Tribal School Construction Demonstration Program to award grants to Indian tribes for the construction of replacement tribal schools. The program provides additional funding and opportunities for tribes to construct schools. Tribes on the Interior priority list for construction of tribal schools receive the highest priority for a grant under this program.

This bill amends the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978 to revise the grant program for construction at tribal colleges and universities. The bill eliminates the requirements for Interior to identify the need for construction and tribal colleges and universities to provide matching funds. Restrictions on grant amounts and the use of constructed facilities are removed.

This bill amends the Housing Act of 1949 to authorize the Department of Agriculture to award grants to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and tribal housing entities for the construction or renovation of housing in rural areas for educators at Indian schools and schools where at least 25% of the students are Indian.

The Bureau of Indian Education and the Office of Management and Budget must develop a 10-year plan to bring up to good condition certain Bureau of Indian Education school facilities.

The Government Accountability Office must report on Impact Aid for construction provided to local education agencies impacted by military dependent children and children who reside on Indian lands.
Topic: Public Lands — Indigenous Affairs
Subject: Native Americans
Date: 2016-02-25 00:00:00

Reforming American Indian Standards of Education Act of 2016 or the RAISE Act of 2016

(Sec. 3) This bill establishes the Indian Education Agency to replace the Bureau of Indian Education.

(Sec. 4) Functions, authorities, and personnel of the Department of the Interior related to Indian education are transferred to the agency.

(Sec. 5) The President's budget must include a separate request for funds for construction of schools by the agency. In making such funds available, the agency must prioritize schools with the most serious deficiencies in capacity or facility conditions.

(Sec. 7) The agency must give preference in hiring to members of Indian tribes.

(Sec. 8) The agency must annually report on its activities, the effectiveness of this bill, and recommendations for legislation to improve the agency.

(Sec. 9) Regulations promulgated by the agency are not subject to review or approval by Interior.