American Indian Agricultural Resource Management Act
PL 103-177 (H.R.1425), enacted 12/03/1993

PUBLIC LAW 103-177—DEC. 3, 1993 
107 STAT. 2011 
Public Law 103-177 
103d Congress 
An Act 
To improve the management, productivity, and use of Indian agricultural lands and 
resources. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of 
America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TTTLi:. 
This Act may be cited as the "American Indian Agricultural 
Resource Management Act". 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds and declares that— 
(1) the United States and Indian tribes have a government 
to government relationship; 
(2) the United States has a trust responsibility to protect, 
conserve, utilize, and manage Indian agricultural lands consist-
ent with its fiduciary obligation and its unique relationship 
with Indian tribes; 
(3) Indian agricultural lands are renewable and manage-
able natural resources which are vital to the economic, social, 
and cultural welfare of many Indian tribes and their members; 
and 
(4) development and management of Indian agricultural 
lands in accordance with integrated resource management 
{>lans will ensure proper management of Indian agricultural 
ands and will produce increased economic returns, enhance 
Indian self-determination, promote emplojonent opportimities, 
and improve the social and economic well-being of Indian and 
surrounding communities. 
SEC. 3. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this Act are to— 
(1) carry out the trust responsibility of the United States 
and promote the self-determination of Indian tribes by provid-
ing for the management of Indian agricultural lands and related 
renewable resources in a manner consistent with identified 
tribal goals and priorities for conservation, multiple use, and 
sustained yield; 
(2) authorize the Secretary to take part in the management 
of Indian agricultural lands, with the participation of the bene-
ficial owners of the land, in a manner consistent with the 
trust responsibility of the Secretary and with the objectives 
of the beneficial owners; 
(3) provide for the development and management of Indian 
agricultural lands; and 
Dec. 3, 1993 
[H.R. 1425] 
American 
Indian 
Agricultural 
Resource 
Management 
Act. 
25 use 3701 
note. 
25 use 3701. 
25 u s e 3702. 
'M 
107 STAT. 2012 
PUBLIC LAW 103-177—DEC. 3, 1993 
^ 
(4) increase the educational and training opportunities 
avcdlable to Indian people and communities in the practical, 
technical, and professional aspects of agriculture and land 
management to improve the expertise and technical abiUties 
of Indian tribes and their members. 
25 use 3703. 
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 
, 
v 
For the purposes of this Act: 
(1) The term "Indian agricultural lands" means Indian 
land, including farmland and rangeland, but excluding Indian 
forest land, that is used for the production of agricultural 
products, and Indian lands occupied by industries that support 
the agricultural community, regardless of whether a formal 
inspection and land classification has been conducted. 
(2) The term "agricultural product" means— 
(A) crops grown under cultivated conditions whether 
.. ., 
used for personal consumption, subsistence, or sold for 
commercial benefit; 
(B) domestic livestock, including cattle, sheep, goats, 
horses, buffalo, swine, reindeer, fowl, or other animal 
specifically raised and utilized for food or fiber or as beast 
of burden; 
(C) forage, hay, fodder, feed grains, crop residues and 
other items grown or harvested for the feeding and care 
of livestock, sold for commercial profit, or used for other 
purposes; and 
(D) other marketable or traditionallv used materials 
authorized for removal from Indian agricultural lands. 
(3) The term "agricultural resource" means— 
(A) all the primary means of production, including 
the land, soil, water, air, plant communities, watersheds, 
human resources, natural and physical attributes, and 
man-made developments, which together comprise the agri-
cultural community; and 
(B) all the benefits derived from Indian agricultural 
^ 
lands and enterprises, including cultivated and gathered 
food products, fibers, horticultural products, dyes, cultural 
or religious condiments, medicines, water, aesthetic, and 
other traditional values of agriculture. 
(4) The term "agricultural resource management plan" 
means ajplan developed under section 101(b). 
(5) The term "Bureau" means the Bureau of Indian Affairs 
of the Department of the Interior. 
(6) The term "farmland" means Indian land excluding 
Indian forest land that is used for production of food, feed, 
ig 
fiber, forage and seed oil crops, or other agricultural products, 
and may be either dryland, irrigated, or irrigated pasture. 
(7) The term "Indian forest land" means forest land as 
defined in section 304(3) of the National Indian Forest 
Resources Management Act (25 U.S.C. 3103(3)). 
(8) The term "Indian" means an individual who is a member 
of an Indian tribe. 
(9) The term "Indian land" means land that is— 
(A) held in trust by the United States for an Indian 
tribe; or 
(B) owned by an Indian or Indian tribe and is subject 
to restrictions against alienation. 
PUBLIC LAW 103-177—DEC. 3, 1993 
107 STAT. 2013 
(10) The term ''Indian tribe" means any Indian tribe, band, 
nation, pueblo, or other organized group or community, includ-
ing any Alaska Native village or regional corporation as defined 
in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settle-
ment Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), which is recognized as 
eHgible for the special programs and services provided by the 
United States to Indians because of their status as Inoians. 
(11) The term "integrated resource management plan" 
means the plan developed pursuant to the process used by 
tribal governments to assess available resources and to provide 
identified holistic management objectives that include Quality 
of life, production goals and landscape descriptions of all des-
ignated resources that may include (but not be limited to) 
water, fish, wildlife, forestry, agriculture, minerals, and recre-
ation, as well as commimity and municipal resources, and 
may include any previously adopted tribal codes and plans 
related to such resources. 
(12) The term "land management activity" means all activi- 
) 
ties, accomplished in support of the management of Indian 
agricultural lands, including (but not limited to)— 
(A) preparation of soil and range inventories, farmland 
and rangeland management plans, and monitoring pro-
grams to evaluate management plans; 
(B) agricultviral lands and on-farm irrigation delivery 
system development, and the application of state of the 
8J*t, soil and range conservation management techniaues 
to restore and ensure the productive potential of Indian 
lands; 
(C) protection against agricultural pests, including 
development, implementetion, and evaluation of integrated 
pest management programs to control noxious weeds, 
undesirable vegetetion, and vertebrate or invertebrate agri-
cultural pests; 
(D) administration and supervision of agricultural leas-
ing and permitting activities, including determination of 
proper land use, carrying capacities, and proper stocking 
rates of livestock, appraisal, advertisement, negotiation, 
contract preparation, collecting, recording, and distributing 
lease rental receipts; 
(E) technical assistence to individuals and tribes 
engaged in agricultural production or agribusiness; and 
(F) educational assistance in agriculture, naturcd 
resources, land management and related fields of study, 
including direct assistence to tribally-controUed community 
colleg[es in developing and implementing curriculum for 
vocational, technical, and professional course work. 
(13) The term "Indian landowner" means the Indian or 
Indian tribe that— 
(A) owns such Indian land, or 
(B) is the beneficiary of the trust under which such 
Indian land is held by the United Stetes. 
(14) The term "rangeland" means Indian land, excluding 
Indian forest land, on which the native vegetetion is predomi-
nantly grasses, grass-like plants, forbs, half-shrubs or shrubs 
suiteble for grazing or browsing use, and includes lands 
revegeteted naturally or artificially to provide a forage cover 
that is managed as native vegetetion. 
107 STAT. 2014 
PUBLIC LAW 103-177—DEC. 3, 1993 
(15) The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the 
Interior. 
TITLE I—RANGELAND AND FARMLAND 
ENHANCEMENT 
25 use 3711. 
SEC. 101. MANAGEMENT OF INDIAN RANGELANDS AND FARMLANDS. 
(a) MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES.—Consistent with the provisions 
of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, 
the Secretary shall provide for the management of Indian agricul-
tural lands to achieve the following objectives: 
(1) To protect, conserve, utilize, and maintain the highest 
productive potential on Indian agricultiu'al lands through the 
application of sound conservation practices and techniques. 
Tnese practices and techniques shall be applied to planning, 
development, inventorying, classification, and management of 
agricultural resources. 
(2) To increase production and expand the diversity and 
availability of agricultural products for subsistence, income, 
and employment of Indians and Alaska Natives, through the 
development of agricultural resources on Indian lands. 
(3) To manage agricultural resources consistent with 
integrated resource management plans in order to protect and 
s 
maintain other values such as wildlife, fisheries, cultural 
resources, recreation and to regulate water nmoffand minimize 
soil erosion. 
(4) To enable Indian farmers and ranchers to maximize 
the potential benefits available to them through their land 
by providing technical assistance, training, and education in 
conservation practices, management and economics of agri-
business, sources and use of credit and marketing of agricul-
tural products, and other applicable subject areas. 
(5) To develop Indian agricultural lands and associated 
value-added industries of Indians and Indian tribes to promote 
self-sustaining commimities. 
(6) To assist trust and restricted Indian landowners in 
leasing their agricultural lands for a reasonable annual return, 
consistent with prudent management and conservation prac-
tices, and commimity goals as expressed in the tribal manage-
ment plans and appropriate tribal ordinances. 
(b) INDIAN AGRICULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLANNING 
PROGRAM.—(1) To meet the management objectives of this section, 
a 10-year Indian agriculture resource management and monitoring 
J 
plan shall be developed and implemented as loUows: 
(A) Pursuant to a self-determination contract or self-govern-
ance compact, an Indian tribe may develop or implement an 
Indian agriculture resource plan. Subject to the provisions of 
subparagraph (C), the tribe shall have broad discretion in 
designing and carrying out the planning process. 
(B) If a tribe chooses not to contract the development 
or implementation of the plan, the Secretary shall develop 
or implement, as appropriate, the plan in close consultation 
with the affected tribe. 
(C) Whether developed directly by the tribe or by the Sec-
retary, the plan shall— 
(i) determine available agriculture resources; 
PUBLIC LAW 103-177—DEC. 3, 1993 
107 STAT. 2015 
(ii) identify' specific tribal agricultural resource goals 
and objectives; 
(iii) establish management objectives for the resources; 
(iv) define critical values of the Indian tribe and its 
members and provide identified holistic 
management 
objectives; 
(v) identify actions to be taken to reach established 
objectives; 
I 
(vi) be developed through public meetings; 
(vii) use the public meeting records, existing survey 
documents, reports, and other research from Federal agen-
cies, tribal community colleges, and land grant universities; 
and 
(viii) be completed within three years of the initiation 
of activity to establish the plan. 
(2) Indian agriculture resource management plans developed 
and approved under this section shall govern tne management 
and administration of Indian agricultural resources and Indian 
agricultural lands by the Bureau and the Indian tribal government. 
SEC. 102. INDIAN PARTICIPATION IN LAND MANAGEMENT ACTIYITIES. 25 USC 3712. 
(a) TRIBAL RECOGNITION.—^The Secretary shall conduct all land 
management activities on Indian agricultural land in accordance 
with goals and objectives set forth in the approved agricultural 
resource management plan, in an integrated resource management 
plan, and in accordance with all tribal laws and ordinances, except 
in specific instances where such compliance would be contrary 
to the trust responsibility of the United States. 
(b) TRIBAL LAWS.—^Unless otherwise prohibited by Federal law, 
the Secretary shall comply with tribal laws and ordinances pertain-
ing to Indian agricultural lands, including laws regulating the 
environment and historic or cultural preservation, and laws or 
ordinances adopted by the tribal government to regulate land use 
or other activities under tribal Jurisdiction. The Secretary shall— 
(1) provide assistance in the enforcement of such tribal 
laws; 
(2) provide notice of such lawi^ to persons or entities under-
taking activities on Indian agricultural lands; and 
(3) upon the recjuest of an Indian tribe, require appropriate 
Federal officials to £ippear in tribal forums. 
(c) WAIVER OF REGLriATiONS.—In any case in which a regulation 
or administrative policy of the Department of the Interior conflicts 
with the objectives of the agricultural resource management plan 
provided for in section 101, or with a tribal law, the Secretary 
may waive the application of such regulation or administrative 
policy unless such waiver would constitute a violation of a Federal 
statute or judicial decision or would conflict with his general trust 
responsibility under Federal law. 
(d) SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY.—^This section does not constitute a 
waiver of the sovereign immunity of the United States, nor does 
it authorize tribal justice systems to review actions of the Secretary. 
SEC. 103. INDIAN AGRICULTURAL LANDS TRESPASS. 
25 USC 3713. 
(a) CIVIL PENALTIES; REGULATIONS.—Not later than one year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue 
regulations that— 
(1) establish cr/il penalties for the commission of trespass 
on Indian agricultural lands, which provide for— 
107 STAT. 2016 
PUBLIC LAW 103-177—DEC. 3, 1993 
(A) collection of the value of the products illegally 
used or removed plus a penalty of double their values; 
(B) collection of the costs associated with damage to 
the Indian agricultural lands caused by the act of trespass; 
and 
(C) collection of the costs associated with enforcement 
of the regulations, including field examination and survey, 
damage appraisal, investigation assistance and reports, 
witness expenses, demsuid letters, court costs, and attorney 
fees; 
(2) designate responsibility within the Department of the 
Interior for the detection and investigation of Indian agricul-
tural lands trespass; and 
(3) set forth responsibilities and procedures for the assess-
ment and collection of civil penalties. 
(b) TREATMENT OF PROCEEDS.—^The proceeds of civil penalties 
collected under this section shall be treated as proceeds from the 
sale of agricultural products from the Indian agricultural lands 
upon which such trespass occurred. 
(c) CONCURRENT JURISDICTION.—Indian tribes which adopt the 
regulations promulgated by the Secretary pursuant to subsection 
(a) shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the United States to 
enforce the provisions of this section and the regulations promul-
gated thereunder. The Bureau and other agencies of the Federal 
Government shall, at the request of the tribal government, defer 
to tribal prosecutions of Indian agricultural land trespass cases. 
Tribal court judgments regarding agricultural trespass shall be 
entitled to full faith and credit in Federal and State courts to 
the same extent as a Federal court judgment obtained under this 
section. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to diminish the 
sovereign authority of Indian tribes with respect to trespass. 
25 use 3714. 
SEC. 104. ASSESSMENT OF INDIAN AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT 
PROGRAMS. 
Contracts. 
(a) ASSESSMENT.—^Within six months after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with affected Indian 
tribes, shall enter into a contract with a non-Federal entity 
knowledgeable in agricultural management on Federal and private 
lands to conduct an independent assessment of Indian agricultural 
land management and practices. Such assessment shall be national 
in scope and shall include a comparative analysis of Federal invest-
ment and management efforts for Indian trust and restricted agri-
cultural lands as compared to federally-owned lands managed by 
other Federal agencies or instnmientalities and as compared to 
federally-served private lands. 
(b) PURPOSES.—^The purposes of the assessment shall be— 
(1) to establish a comprehensive assessment of the improve-
ment, funding, and development needs for all Indian agricul-
tural lands; 
(2) to establish a comparison of management and funding 
provided to comparable lands owned or managed by the Federal 
Government through Federal agencies other than the Bureau; 
and 
(3) to identify any obstacles to Indian access to Federal 
or private programs relating to agriculture or related rural 
development programs generally available to the public at large. 
PUBLIC LAW 103-177—DEC. 3, 1993 
107 STAT. 2017 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION.—^Within one year after the date of enact- Reports. 
ment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide the Subcommittee 
on Native American Affieiirs of the Committee on Natural Resources 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Indian 
Affairs of the Senate with a status report on the development 
of the comparative analysis required by this section and shall 
file a final report with the Congress not later than 18 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 105. LEASING OF INIIIAN AGRICULTURAL LANDS. 
25 USC 3715. 
(a) AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY.—The Secretary is authorized 
to— 
(1) approve any agricultural lease or permit with (A) a 
tenure of up to 10 years, or (B) a tenure longer than 10 
years but not to exceed 25 years unless authorized by other 
Federal law, when such longer tenure is determined by the 
Secretary to be in the best interest of the Indian landowners 
and when such lease or permit requires substantial investment 
in the development of the lands or crops by the lessee; and 
(2) lease or permit agricultural lands to the highest respon-
sible bidder at rates less than the Federal appraisal after 
satisfactorily advertising such lands for lease, when, in the 
opinion of the Secretary, such action would be in the best 
interest of the Indian landowner. 
(b) AUTHORITY OF THE TRIBE.—^When authorized by an appro-
priate tribal resolution establishing a general policy for leasing 
of Indian agricultural lands, the Secretary— 
(1) shall provide a preference to Indian operators in the 
issuance and renewal of agricultural leases and permits so 
long as the lessor receives fair market value for his property; 
(2) shall waive or modify the requirement that a lessee 
post a surety or performance bond on agricultural leases and 
permits issued by the Secretary; 
(3) shall provide for posting of other collateral or security 
in lieu of surety or other bonds; and 
(4) when such tribal resolution sets forth a tribal definition 
of what constitutes "highly fractionated undivided heirship 
lands" and adopts an alternative plan for providing notice to 
\ 
owners, may waive or modify any general notice requirement 
of Federal law and proceed to negotiate and lease or permit 
such highly fractionated undivided interest heirship lands in 
conformity with tribal law in order to prevent waste, reduce 
idle land acreage, and ensure income. 
(c) RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUAL LANDOWNERS.—(1) Nothing in this 
section shall be construed as limiting or altering the authority 
or right of an individual allottee in the legal or beneficial use 
of his or her own land or to enter into an agricultural lease of 
the surface interest of his or her allotment under any other provi-
sion of law. 
(2XA) The owners of a majority interest in any trust or 
restricted land are authorized to enter into an agricultural lease 
of the surface interest of a trust or restricted allotment, and such 
lease shall be binding upon the owners of the minority interests 
in such land if the terms of the lease provide such minority interests 
with not less than fair market value for such land. 
107 STAT. 2018 
PUBLIC LAW 103-177—DEC. 3, 1993 
(B) For the purposes of subparagraph (A), a msQority interest 
in trust or restricted land is an interest greater than 50 percent 
of the legal or beneficial title. 
(3) The provisions of subsection (b) shall not apply to a parcel 
of trust or restricted land if the owners of at least 50 percent 
^ 
of the legal or beneficial interest in such land file with the Secretary 
a written objection to the application of all or any part of such 
tribal rules to the leasing of such parcel of land. 
TITLE II—EDUCATION IN AGRICULTURE 
MANAGEMENT 
25 use 3731. 
SEC. 201. INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE AGRICULTURE MANAGEMENT 
EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. 
(a) AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES INTERN PROGRAM.—(1) Notwith-
standing the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing 
appointments in the competitive service, the Secretary shall estab-
lish and maintain in the Bureau or other appropriate office or 
bureau within the Department of the Interior at least 20 agricul-
tural resources intern positions for Indian and Alaska Native stu-
dents enrolled in an agriculture study program. Such positions 
shall be in addition to the forester intern positions authorized 
in section 314(a) of the National Indian Forest Resources Manage-
ment Act (25 U.S.C. 3113(a)). 
(2)For purposes of this subsection— 
(A) the term "agricultural resources intern" means an 
Indian who— 
(i) is attending an approved postsecondary school in 
a full-time agriculture or related field, and 
(ii) is appointed to one of the agricultural resources 
intern positions established under paragraph (1); 
(B) the term "agricultural resources intern positions" means 
positions established pursuant to paragraph (1) for agricultural 
resources interns; and 
(C) the term "agriculture study program" includes (but 
is not limited to) agricultural 
engineering, 
agricultural 
economics, animal husbandry, 
animal 
science, 
biological 
sciences, geographic information systems, horticulture, range 
management, soil science, and veterinary science. 
- 
(3) The Secretary shall pay, by reimbursement or otherwise, 
all costs for tuition, books, fees, and living expenses incurred by 
an agricultural resources intern while attending an approved post-
secondary or graduate school in a full-time agricultural study 
program. 
(4) An agricultural resources intern shall be required to enter 
into an obligated service agreement with the Secretary to serve 
as an emjployee in a professional agriculture or natural resources 
position with the Department of the Interior or other Federal agency 
or an Indian tribe for one year for each year of education for 
which the Secretary pays the intern's educational costs under para-
graph (3). 
(5) An agricultural resources intern shall be required to report 
for service with the Bureau of Indian Affairs or other bureau 
or agency sponsoring his internship, or to a designated work site, 
during any break in attendance at school of more than 3 weeks 
duration. Time spent in such service shall be coimted toward satis-
PUBLIC LAW 103-177—DEC. 3, 1993 
107 STAT. 2019 
faction of the intern's obligated service agreement under paragraph 
(4). 
(b) COOPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM.—(1) The Secretary shall 
medntain, through the Bureau, a cooperative education program 
for the purpose, among other things, of recruiting Indian and Aleiska 
Native students who are enrolled in secondary schools, tribally 
controlled community colleges, and other postsecondary or graduate 
schools, for employment in professional agricultural or related posi-
tions with the Bureau or other Federal agency providing Indian 
agricultural or related seirvices. 
(2) The cooperative educational program imder paragraph (1) 
shall be modeled after, and shall have essentially the same features 
^ 
as, the program in efiTect on the date of enactment of this Act 
pursuant to chapter 308 of the Federal Personnel Manual of the 
Office of Personnel Management. 
(3) The cooperative educational program shall include, among 
others, the following: 
(A) The Secretary shall continue the established specific 
programs in agriculture and natural resources education at 
Southwestern Indian Poljrtechnic Institute (SIPI) and at Has-
kell Indian Junior College. 
(B) The Secretary shall develop and maintain a cooperative 
program with the tribally controlled commiinity colleges to 
coordinate course requirements, texts, and provide direct tech-
nical assistance so that a significant portion of the college 
credits in both the Haskell and Southwestern Indian Poly-
technic Institute programs can be met through local program 
work at participating tribally controlled commimity colleges. 
(C) Working through tribally controlled community colleges 
and in cooperation wiui land grant institutions, the Secretary 
shall implement an informational and educational program to 
provide practical training and assistance in creating or 
maintaining a successful agricultural enterprise, assessing 
sources of commercial credit, developing markets, and other 
subjects of importance in agricultural pursuits. 
(D) Working through tribally controlled community colleges 
and in cooperation wim land grant institutions, the Secretary 
shall implement research activities to improve the basis for 
determining appropriate management measures to apply to 
Indian agricultural management. 
(4) Under the cooperative agreement program imder paragraph 
(1), the Secretary shall pay, by reimbursement or otherwise, all 
costs for tuition, books, and fees of an Indian student who— 
(A) is enrolled in a course of study at an education institu-
tion with which the Secretary has entered into a cooperative 
agreement; £md 
(B) is interested in a career with the Bureau, an Indian 
tribe or a tribal enterprise in the management of Indian range-
lands, farmlands, or other natural resource assets. 
(5) A recipient of assistance under the cooperative education 
program imder this subsection shall be required to enter into an 
obligated service agreement with the Secretary to serve as a profes-
sional in an agricmtural resoiurce related activity with the Bureau, 
or other Federal agency providing agricultural or related services 
to Indians or Indian tribes, or an Indian tribe for one year for 
each year for which the Secretary pays the recipients educational 
costs pursuant to paragraph (3). 
107 STAT. 2020 
PUBLIC LAW 103-177—DEC. 3, 1993 
(c) SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.—(1) The Secretary may grant schol-
arships to Indians enrolled in accredited agriculture related pro-
grams for postsecondary and graduate programs of study as full-
time students. 
(2) A recipient of a scholarship imder paragraph (1) shall be 
required to enter into an obligated service agreement with the 
Secretary in which the recipient agrees to accept employment for 
one year for each year the recipient received a scholarsnip, following 
completion of the recipients course of study, with— 
(A) the Bureau or other agency of the Federal Government 
providing agriculture or natural resource related services to 
Indians or Indian tribes; 
(B) an agriculture or related program conducted under 
a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement entered into imder 
the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act; 
or 
(C) a tribal agriculture or related program. 
(3) The Secretanr shall not deny scholarship assistance under 
this subsection solely on the basis of an applicant's scholastic 
achievement if the applicant has been admitted 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 coordina-
tion with Indian tribes, an agricultiiral resource education outreach 
program for Indian youth to explain and stimulate interest in 
all aspects of management and careers in Indian agriculture and 
natural resources. 
(e) ADEQUACY OF PROGRAMS.—The Secretary shall administer 
the programs described in this section imtil a sufficient number 
of Indians are trained to ensure that there is an adequate number 
of qualified, professional Indian agricultural resource managers to 
manage the Bureau agricultural resource programs and programs 
maintained by or for Indian tribes. 
25 use 3732. 
SEC. 202. POSTGRADUATION RECRUITMENT, EDUCATION AND TRAIN-
ING PROGRAMS. 
(a) ASSUMPTION OF LOANS.—The Secretary shall establish and 
maintain a program to attract Indian professionals who are grad-
uates of a course of postsecondary or graduate education for employ-
ment in either the Bureau agriculture or related programs or, 
subject to the approval of the tribe, in tribal agriculture or related 
Regulations. 
programs. Accormng to such regulations as the Secretary may pre-
scribe, such program shall provide for the employment of Indian 
professionals in exchange for the assumption by the Secretary of 
the outstanding student loans of the employee. The period of 
employment shall be determined by the amount of the loan that 
is assumed. 
(b) POSTGRADUATE INTERGOVERNMENTAL INTERNSHIPS.—^For the 
purposes of training, skill development and orientation of Indian 
and Federal agricultural management personnel, and the enhance-
ment of tribal and Bureau agricultural resource programs, the 
Secretary shall establish and actively conduct a program for the 
cooperative internship of Federal and Indian agricultural resource 
personnel. Such program shall— 
(1) for agencies within the Department of the Interior— 
PUBLIC LAW 103-177—DEC. 3, 1993 
107 STAT. 2021 
(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 Interior, and 
(B) provide for the internship of agrictdtural resource 
personnel from the other Department of the Interior agen-
cies within the Bureau, 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 personnel 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 participating 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 Services Division of 
the Bureau for Indian agricultural resource 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 resource personnel; and 
(3) development training of Indian agricultural resource 
personnel in agricultural resource based enterprises and 
marketing. 
SEC. 203. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT 25 USC 3733. 
OF THE INTERIOR AND INDIAN TRIBES. 
(a) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.— 
(IXA) To facilitate the administration of the programs and 
activities of the Department of the Interior, 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 agricultural edu-
cation and resource planning materials, and 
(iii) perform land and facility improvements and other 
activities related to land and natural resource management 
and development. 
(B) The Secretary may enter into these agreements 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 contrac-
tors from any appropriated funds available for similar kinds ^
^ 
of work or by furnishing or sharing materials, supplies, facili-
ties, or equipment v/ithout regard to the provisions of section 
3324 of title 31, United States Code, relating to the advance 
of public moneys. 
(b) SUPERVISION.—In any agreement authorized by this section, 
Indian tribes and their employees may perform cooperative work 
107 STAT. 2022 
PUBLIC LAW 103-177—DEC. 3, 1993 
under the supervision of the Department of the Interior in emer-
gencies 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 Stetes 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. 
25 use 3734. 
SEC. 204. OBUGATED SERVICE; BREACH OF CONTRACT. 
(a) OBLIGATED SERVICE.—^Where an individual enters into an 
agreement for obligated service in return for financial assistance 
under any provision of this title, the Secretory shall adopt such 
regulations as are necessary to provide for the offer of employment 
to the recipient of such assistonce 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 emplo3rment, the Secretory shall require a repay-
ment of the financial assistonce 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 interest at the 
m£iximum legal prevailing rate, as determined by the Secretory 
of the Treasury. 
TITLE III—GENERAL PROVISIONS 
25 use 3741. 
SEC. 301. REGULATIONS. 
Except as otherwise provided by this Act, the Secretary shall 
promulgate final regulations for the implementotion of this Act 
within 24 months eifter the date of enactment of this Act. All 
regulations promulgated pursuant to this Act shall be developed 
by the Secretory with the participation of the affected Indian tribes. 
25 u s e 3742. 
SEC. 302. TRUST RESPONSIBILITY. 
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to diminish or expand 
the trust responsibility of the Unitod Statos toward Indian trust 
lands or natural resources, or any legal obligation or remedy result-
ing therefrom. 
25 use 3743. 
SEC. 303. SEVERABILITY. 
If any provision of this Act, or the application of any provision 
of this Act to any person or circumstonce, is held invalid, the 
application of such provision or circumstonce and the remainder 
of this Act shall not be affected thereby. 
25 use 3744. 
SEC. 304. FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITY. 
(a) DISCLAIMER.—Nothing in this Act shall be construed to 
supersede or limit the authority of Federal, Stote or local agencies 
otherwise authorized by law to provide services to Indians. 
(b) DUPLICATION OF SERVICES.—The Secretary shall work with 
all appropriate Federal departmento and agencies to avoid duplica-
tion of programs and services currently available to Indian tribes 
and landowners from other sources. 
PUBLIC LAW 103-177—DEC. 3, 1993 
107 STAT. 2023 
SEC. 80S. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
25 USC 3745. 
(a) GENERAL AUTHORIZATION.—There are authorized 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 uie greatest extent possible, such activities shall be coordi-
nated with activities funded 
from 
other sources. 
Approved December 3, 1993. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1425: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 103-367 (Comm. on Natural Resources). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 103-186 (Comm. on Indian Affairs). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 139 (1993): 
Nov. 16, considered and psissed House. 
Nov. 19, considered and passed Senate.