zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Native Hawaiian Education Reauthorization Act of 2015 Amends the Native Hawaiian Education Act to revise the duties and composition of the Native Hawaiian Education Council. (The Native Hawaiian Education Council coordinates the educational and related services and programs available to Native Hawaiians.) Requires the Council to be composed of 15 members who: (1) are from certain educational, governmental, Trust, and grant-making entities; and (2) demonstrate at least five years of experience as consumers or providers of Native Hawaiian education or cultural activities.

Directs the Council, in addition to its existing duties, to: (1) serve as a clearinghouse for the educational and related services and programs available to Native Hawaiians, and (2) provide technical assistance to Native Hawaiian organizations that apply for or receive Native Hawaiian Education program grants.

Requires the Council to hold at least one community consultation each year on each of the islands of Hawaii, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Oahu, and Kauai regarding Native Hawaiian education program grants and other education issues. Eliminates the requirement that the council meet at least four times each year with an island council composed of parents, students, and other Native Hawaiian education stakeholders.

Includes charter schools as eligible recipients of Native Hawaiian Education program grants, in addition to Native Hawaiian education organizations, Native Hawaiian community-based organizations, and public and private nonprofit entities.

Gives grant priority to programs that: (1) meet the educational priorities established by the Council; (2) repair and renovate public schools that serve high concentrations of Native Hawaiian students; (3) meet the unique cultural and language needs of Native Hawaiian students in order to help them meet challenging state academic achievement standards; and (4) involve states, local educational agencies, or institutions of higher education in partnerships or consortia.

Requires the Secretary of Education to use funds made available for Native Hawaiian Education program grants before this Act's enactment to support: (1) the development of a body of Native Hawaiian law; (2) the repair and renovation of public schools that serve high concentrations of Native Hawaiian students; (3) access to Hawaiian culture and history through digital archives; (4) informal education programs that connect traditional Hawaiian knowledge, science, astronomy, and the environment through state museums or learning centers; and (5) public charter schools serving high concentrations of Native Hawaiian students.

 Authorizes appropriations for such grants through FY2021.

Date: 2015-02-11
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Education
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.)

Amends the National Trails System Act to direct the Department of the Interior to conduct a study on feasibility of designating as a national historic trail the Chief Standing Bear Trail, extending approximately 550 miles from Niobrara, Nebraska, to Ponca City, Oklahoma, which follows the route taken by Chief Standing Bear and the Ponca people during federal Indian removal, and approximately 550 miles from Ponca City through Omaha, Nebraska, to Niobrara, Nebraska, which follows the return route taken by Chief Standing Bear and the Ponca people.

Requires Interior to consider input from owners of private land within or adjacent to such study area.

Date: 2015-02-13
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Tribal Transportation Self-Governance Act of 2015

The Department of Transporttion (DOT) shall establish a tribal transportation self-governance program via a compact with an Indian tribe, subject to negotiated annual written funding arrangements with the tribe.

A funding agreement shall authorize the Indian tribe to plan, conduct, consolidate, administer, and receive full tribal share funding and funding to tribes from DOT-administered discretionary and competitive grants for all programs, services, functions, and activities to carry out tribal transportation programs and DOT-administered programs, services, functions, and activities.

Date: 2015-02-25
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Hunter and Farmer Protection Act

This bill amends the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to revise standards for determining what constitutes baiting for purposes of the prohibition on taking migratory game birds.

A baited area, in the case of waterfowl, cranes, and coots, includes a standing, unharvested crop that has been manipulated through activities such as mowing, discing, or rolling, unless the activities are normal agricultural practices. An area is not considered to be a baited area if it: (1) has been treated with a normal agricultural practice, (2) has standing crops that have not been manipulated, or (3) has standing crops that have been or are flooded.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must submit to the Department of the Interior a report on changes to normal agricultural practices across the range of crops grown by agricultural producers in each region of the United States in which USDA harvest practice recommendations are provided to agricultural producers.

Date: 2015-02-26
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Animals
Defines "state homes" to include homes established by federally recognized Indian tribes for veterans who, by reason of disability, are incapable of earning a living.

Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay those tribes for the hospital, nursing home, domiciliary, and medical care they provide to veterans in those homes.

Makes those tribes eligible for grants from the Secretary for the construction of state homes.

Date: 2015-02-26
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians Land Transfer Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of the Interior to take specified lands in Santa Barbara County, California, into trust for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians, subject to valid existing rights and to the terms in a certain stipulated judgment relating to a specified easement, if the Tribe transfers title to that land to the United States. (Placing that land into trust removes certain restrictions on the property under California law.) The transferred land shall become part of the Santa Ynez Indian Reservation.

 No gaming may be conducted on the land.

Date: 2015-02-27
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Native Americans
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.)

Native American Children's Safety Act

 Amends the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act (Act) to prohibit the final approval of any foster care placement and no foster care license from being issued until the tribal social services agency : (1) completes a criminal records check of each covered individual who resides in the household or is employed at the institution in which the foster care placement will be made, and (2) concludes that each of those individuals meets the standards the tribe is required to establish.

Defines a "covered individual" as an adult and any other individual the tribe determines is subject to a criminal records check.

Requires such standards to include requirements that each tribal social services agency: (1) perform criminal records checks, including fingerprint-based checks of national crime information databases; (2) check any abuse registries maintained by the Indian tribe, (3) check any child abuse and neglect registry maintained by the state, and any tribal abuse registries maintained in the state, in which the individual resides; (4) request any other state in which the individual resided during the preceding five years to enable the agency to check its registry, and (5) any other additional requirements that the Indian tribe determines is necessary and permissible within its existing authority, such as the creation of voluntary agreements with state entities in order to facilitate the sharing of information related to the performance of criminal records checks.

Prohibits a foster care placement from being ordered if the investigation reveals that the covered individual: (1) has been found guilty by a federal, state, or tribal court of a felony involving child abuse or neglect, spousal abuse, a crime against a child, violence, or drugs.

Excepts emergency foster care placements from such requirements.

Requires each Indian tribe to establish procedures to recertify homes or institutions in which foster care placements are made. Requires those procedures to include, at a minimum, periodic intervals at which the home or institution is subject to recertification to ensure the safety of the home or institution and that each covered individual who resides in the home or is employed at the institution is subject to a criminal records check.

Directs the Secretary of the Interior to issue guidance regarding: (1) procedures for a criminal records check of any covered individual who resides in the home or is employed at the institution in which the child is placed after the investigations that preceded that placement occurred, (2) self-reporting requirements for foster care homes or institutions that have knowledge that a covered individual residing on their premises would fail a criminal records check, (3) promising practices used by Indian tribes to address emergency foster care placements, and (4) procedures for certifying compliance with the Act.

Date: 2015-02-27
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Native Americans
(Sec. 1) This bill amends the San Luis Rey Indian Water Rights Settlement Act to approve and ratify the settlement agreement dated January 30, 2015, and approved by the La Jolla, Rincon, San Pasqual, Pauma, and Pala Bands of Mission Indians (California), the San Luis Rey River Indian Water Authority, the City of Escondido, California, the Vista Irrigation District, and the United States.

The Departments of the Interior and Justice may execute the agreement and any amendments approved by the parties to make it consistent with such Act. Such execution shall not constitute a major federal action under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Interior is authorized to take steps necessary to implement the agreement and such Act.

The tribes will continue to possess federally reserved rights and other water rights held in trust by the United States. In any proceeding involving the assertion, enforcement, or defense of such rights, the United States shall not be a required party and and any decision by the United States regarding participation in any such proceeding shall not be subject to judicial review or give rise to any claim for relief against the United States.

Congress confirms that the benefits to allottees in the agreement are equitable and fully satisfy their water rights.

(Sec. 2) A limit is set on the amount that may be allocated annually from the San Luis Rey Tribal Development Fund.

Date: 2015-03-04
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Native Americans
New Mexico Navajo Water Settlement Technical Corrections Act

 Amends the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 to expand the current authorization for the construction or rehabilitation and operation and maintenance of conjunctive use wells in the San Juan River Basin, Little Colorado River Basin, and Rio Grande Basin in New Mexico to include the planning and design of those wells.

Revises the percentages of funds authorized for the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, conjunctive use wells, and San Juan River Irrigation Projects that may be made available for specified purposes by:

 increasing from 2% to 4% the portion of funds that may be used for the survey, recovery, protection, preservation, and display of archaeological resources in the area of a Project facility or conjunctive use well; and decreasing from 4% to 2% the portion of funds that may be used for purchasing land and constructing and maintaining facilities to mitigate the loss of, and improve conditions for the propagation of, fish and wildlife.

Date: 2015-03-17
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Native Americans
Cow Creek Umpqua Land Conveyance Act 

 Requires all interest of the United States in approximately 17,519 acres of land (Council Creek land) to be held in trust for, and to be part of the reservation of, the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians.

Applies federal law relating to the export of unprocessed logs harvested from federal land to any unprocessed logs that are harvested from such land. Prohibits gaming on such land. Requires any forestry activity on such land to be managed in accordance with applicable federal laws.

Directs the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior to identify any land conveyed under this Act that is Oregon and California Railroad grant land. Directs Interior to: (1) identify public domain land in Oregon that is approximately equal in acreage and condition to such Oregon and California Railroad grant land, and (2) reclassify the public domain land as Oregon and California Railroad grant land.

Date: 2015-03-18
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Oregon Coastal Lands Act

 Requires all interest of the United States in approximately 14,408 acres of land (Oregon Coastal land) to be held in trust for, and to be part of the reservation of, the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians (Tribes).

Applies federal law relating to the export of unprocessed logs harvested from federal land to any unprocessed logs harvested from such land. Prohibits gaming on such land. Requires commercial forestry activity on such land to be managed in accordance with applicable federal laws. Exempts such land from the land use planning requirements of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976.

Directs the Tribes to consult with the Department of the Interior and other parties to develop agreements to provide for access to such land that provide for: (1) honoring existing reciprocal right-of-way agreements, (2) administrative access by the Bureau of Land Management, and (3) management of any such land acquired or developed under the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965.

Directs the Department of Agriculture and Interior to identify any land conveyed under this Act that is Oregon and California Railroad grant land. Directs Interior to: (1) identify public domain land in Oregon that is approximately equal in acreage and condition to such Oregon and California Railroad grant land, and (2) reclassify the public domain land as Oregon and California Railroad grant land.

Date: 2015-03-18
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax credit for producing electricity from an Indian coal production facility, to eliminate: (1) the requirement that such a facility be placed in service before January 1, 2009, and (2) the limitation on the period during which such coal is required to be produced and sold.

Date: 2015-03-19
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Taxation
Tribal Adoption Parity Act

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow Indian tribes to make the determination that a child is a child with special needs for purposes of the adoption tax credit.

Date: 2015-03-23
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Taxation
Samish Indian Nation Land Conveyance Act of 2015

 Directs the Department of the Interior to take into trust for the benefit of the Samish Indian Nation the 17 parcels of approximately 97 acres of specified land owned by the Tribe in Skagit County and San Juan County, Washington.

Prohibits the Tribe from conducting gaming on such land.

Date: 2015-03-25
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Native Americans
This bill amends the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to provide that nothing in such Act prohibits possessing, selling, bartering, purchasing, shipping, and transporting any authentic Alaskan Native article of handicraft or clothing on the basis that it contains a nonedible migratory bird part. The exemption is inapplicable with respect to any handicraft or clothing containing any part of a migratory bird that was taken in a wasteful manner.

Date: 2015-03-26
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Animals
Amends the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to recognize Alexander Creek, Alaska, as a Native village eligible for land and benefits under the Act.

Requires Alexander Creek to file any amendments to its corporate charter in Alaska that are necessary to convert from a Native group to a Native Village Corporation.

Directs the Secretary of the Interior to open negotiations with Alexander Creek to reach an agreement to settle Alexander Creek's aboriginal land claims and any other claims of such Native Village Corporation against the United States fairly and equitably.

Requires Alexander Creek to notify each member of the Native village that: (1) all of them will cease to receive benefits from Cook Inlet Region Incorporated (CIRI) individually as at-large shareholders, and (2) all future resource payments from the Region will be made to the Village Corporation. Relieves CIRI from liability under any state, federal, or local law for damages related to that payment cessation.

Date: 2015-03-26
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Albuquerque Indian School Land Transfer Act

 (Sec. 3) Directs the Department of the Interior to take into trust 4 tracts of federal land in New Mexico, the combined acreage of which is approximately 11.11 acres, that were historically part of the Albuquerque Indian School for the benefit of 19 specified pueblos immediately after the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 have been satisfied regarding the trust acquisition of such federal land.

Requires the federal lands taken into trust to: be used for the educational, health, cultural, business, and economic development of the 19 pueblos; and remain subject to any private or municipal encumbrance, right-of-way, restriction, easement of record, or utility service agreement in effect on this Act's enactment date. Requires the 19 pueblos to allow the Bureau of Indian Affairs to continue to use the federal lands taken into trust for the facilities and purposes in existence on this Act's enactment date.

(Sec. 4) Prohibits gaming on the federal lands taken into trust under this Act.

Date: 2015-04-16
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Native Americans
Native American Languages Reauthorization Act of 2015

 Amends the Native American Programs Act of 1974 to reauthorize through FY2020 and revise a grant program administered by the Administration for Native Americans at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to ensure the survival and continuing vitality of Native American languages.

Decreases the required minimum number of enrollees in educational programs funded by the grant program from:

 10 to 5 enrollees in Native American language nests, and 15 to 10 enrollees in the Native American language survival schools. Changes the duration of grants provided under the program.

Date: 2015-04-30
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Native Americans
Duwamish Tribal Recognition Act

 Extends federal recognition to the Duwamish Tribe.

Makes the Tribe and its members eligible for all services and benefits provided by the federal government to federally recognized tribes without regard to the existence of a reservation for the Tribe or the location of the residence of any member on or near any Indian reservation. Defines the Tribe's service area for purposes of the delivery of federal services.

Requires the Tribe to submit to the Department of the Interior a membership roll of all individuals enrolled in the Tribe.

Requires the Tribe to conduct an election by secret ballot to adopt a constitution and bylaws for the Tribe. Requires the Tribe to elect a governing body in accordance with the procedures set forth in its constitution and bylaws.

Requires Interior to take Tribe service area or aboriginal lands into trust for the benefit of the Tribe if the Tribe transfers all interest in and to the land to Interior within ten years. Requires Interior and the Department of Agriculture to identify those lands which shall be considered the aboriginal homelands of the Tribe.

Date: 2015-04-30
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Native Americans
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on October 27, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

(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 in Lassen County, California.

Certain gaming on these lands is prohibited.

Date: 2015-05-01
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Health
Point Spencer Land Conveyance Act

This bill directs the Department of the Interior to convey the surface and subsurface estates of Tracts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 as identified on the map titled "Point Spencer Land Retention and Conveyance Map," dated January 2015, to the Bering Straits Native Corporation and tract 6 surface and subsurface estates to Alaska in accordance with specified terms.

The Port Coordination Advisory Council for the Port of Point Spencer is established.

Date: 2015-05-12
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act

Amends the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to permit the Native residents of each of the Native Villages of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell, Alaska, to organize as Urban Corporations and to receive certain settlement land pursuant to this Act.

Authorizes those Urban Corporations to establish a settlement trust to promote the health, education, and welfare of the trust beneficiaries, and preserve the Native heritage and culture of their communities.

Date: 2015-05-15
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Native Americans
Alaska Native Veterans Land Allotment Equity Act

 (Sec. 2) This bill 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 Interior pursuant to the civil action Shields v. United States shall be reopened and considered to be approved.

(Sec. 3) The bill revises the eligibility of Alaska Native Vietnam veterans for an allotment. Eligibility for allotments is extended to veterans who served between August 5, 1964, and May 7, 1975.

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

The bill 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.

Allotments may be selected from vacant federal lands or lands that have been selected by 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.

The lands excluded from allotment are revised 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.

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

Persons who made an allotment selection under ANCSA and were not conveyed the allotment before enactment of this bill may reselect land.

Date: 2015-05-15
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Native Americans
Lytton Rancheria Homelands Act of 2015

(Sec. 4) This bill takes into trust for the benefit of the Lytton Rancheria of California certain land owned by the tribe in Sonoma County, California. Land taken into trust is made a part of the tribe's reservation. Gaming is prohibited on this land and in a specified area of Sonoma County.

(Sec. 5) Gaming is prohibited until March 16, 2037, on land taken into trust for the benefit of the tribe after enactment of this bill.

(Sec. 6) The memorandum of agreement entered into by the tribe and the county that was approved by the county on March 10, 2015, is not subject to review and approval by the Department of the Interior.

Date: 2015-05-21
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Native Americans
Save Our National Parks Transportation Act 

Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish a nationally significant federal lands and tribal projects program to fund construction, reconstruction, or rehabilitation of nationally significant federal lands and tribal transportation projects. The federal share of project costs may be up to 100%.

Date: 2015-06-01
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an Indian tribal government to be a shareholder of an S corporation.

Date: 2015-06-03
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Taxation
Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas Equal and Fair Opportunity Settlement Act

 This bill amends the Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas Restoration Act to repeal the prohibition against gaming activities by the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas on its lands if those gaming activities are prohibited by Texas law.

The United States and the Tribe must execute and file in each applicable court a motion for dismissal of any pending claim arising out of or relating to any interest in the aboriginal lands of the Tribe.

Any claim by or on behalf of the Tribe, or any predecessor in interest or any of its members, against the United States, Texas, or any landowner, which is based on any interest in or right involving any land or natural resources regarding the aboriginal lands, is hereby extinguished.

Date: 2015-06-04
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Native Americans
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on April 12, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Nevada Native Nations Land Act

(Sec. 3) This bill requires the United States to hold in trust the following lands for the benefit of:

 the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe of the Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation, 19,094 acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land; the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation, 82 acres of Forest Service land; the Summit Lake Paiute Tribe, 941 acres of BLM land; the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, 13,434 acres of BLM land; the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, 6,357 acres of BLM land; and the Duckwater Shoshone Tribe, 31,269 acres of BLM land. The lands held for these tribes shall be part of their respective reservations.

(Sec. 4) Gaming is prohibited on these lands.

Date: 2015-06-11
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Native Americans
Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act

 Establishes the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children in the Office of Tribal Justice of the Department of Justice.

Requires the President and Congress to appoint to the Commission individuals who have significant experience and expertise in Indian affairs and matters to be studied by the Commission.

Requires the Commission to establish a Native Advisory Committee consisting of representatives of Indian tribes from each region of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and a native Hawaiian.

Directs the Commission to study federal, state, local, and tribal programs that serve Native children and use the results of the study and analyses of existing federal data to: develop recommendations for goals and plans for federal policy relating to Native children informed by the development of accurate child well-being measures; recommend modifications and improvements to programs that serve Native children; recommend improvements to the collection of data regarding Native children and the programs that serve them; and identify models of successful federal, state, and tribal programs in the areas studied by the Commission. Requires the Commission to submit a report to the President, Congress, and the White House Council on Native American Affairs on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations for legislative and administrative action.

Date: 2015-06-12
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Native Americans
American Indian Trust Responsibility Review Act of 2015

 Establishes the American Indian Trust Review Commission to: (1) conduct a comprehensive review of the unique trust relationship between the United States and federally recognized Indian tribes, and (2) report to Congress within two years of this Act's enactment.

Requires the study to analyze:

 the attributes of that relationship; the policies, practices, structure, and effectiveness of the federal agencies that have trust responsibilities toward Indian tribes; the feasibility of authorizing willing Indian tribes to assume duties currently performed by the federal government; the data necessary for the Commission to get a better understanding of tribal needs; the feasibility of creating high-level federal positions to increase tribal participation in policy formation and program development; the viability of a mechanism to ensure the continuation of critical programs for Indian tribes; the appropriate role of state and local governments in federal activities affecting Indian tribes; and modifications to laws, procedures, regulations, policies, and practices that might further the federal government's trust relationship with Indian tribes.

Date: 2015-06-12
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Native Americans
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.)

Western Oregon Tribal Fairness Act

TITLE I--COW CREEK UMPQUA LAND CONVEYANCE

Cow Creek Umpqua Land Conveyance Act

(Sec. 103) This bill requires that 17,519 acres of land be held in trust for, and be part of the reservation of, the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians.

(Sec. 105) Federal law applies to the export of unprocessed logs harvested from this land and to forest management on this land. Gaming on this land is prohibited.

(Sec. 106) The Department of the Interior must reclassify public domain land as Oregon and California Railroad grant land in equal acreage as grant land held in trust as part of this land.

TITLE II--COQUILLE FOREST FAIRNESS

Coquille Forest Fairness Act

(Sec. 202) This bill amends the Coquille Restoration Act to remove the requirement that Interior manage the Coquille Forest in accordance with state and federal forestry and environmental protection laws.

This bill strikes a provision giving the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon jurisdiction over certain actions concerning the Coquille Forest and limiting remedies to equitable relief.

TITLE III--OREGON COASTAL LANDS

Oregon Coastal Lands Act

(Sec. 303) This bill requires that 14,408 acres of land be held in trust for, and be part of the reservation of, the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians.

(Sec. 305) Federal law applies to the export of unprocessed logs harvested from this land and to forest management on this land. Gaming on this land is prohibited.

(Sec. 306) Interior must reclassify public domain land as Oregon and California Railroad grant land in equal acreage as grant land held in trust as part of this land.

Date: 2015-06-16
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Native Americans
Dine College Act of 2015

Authorizes Dine College to receive federal funding and resources for its operation, improvement, and growth, including to:

 provide higher education programs and vocational and technical education for citizens of the Navajo Nation and others; preserve and protect the Navajo language, philosophy, and culture for citizens of the Navajo Nation and others; provide Navajo communities and people with employment and training opportunities; provide economic development and community outreach for Navajo communities and people; and provide a safe learning, working, and living environment for students, employees, and the public. Authorizes appropriations to Dine College to pay for its operation and maintenance. Allows such funds to be treated as non-federal, private funds for purposes of any provision of federal law that requires that non-federal or private funds of the College be used in a project for a specific purpose. Directs the Department of the Interior to fund the operation and maintenance of the College separately from tribal colleges and universities recognized and funded by the Tribally Controlled College or University Assistance Act of 1978.

Directs: (1) an inventory prepared by the College identifying repairs, alterations, and renovations to facilities required to meet health and safety standards and other factors to be submitted to Interior by January 31, 2016; (2) Interior to conduct a detailed survey of all capital projects and facility needs of the College and to report to specified congressional committees by October 31, 2016; and (3) Interior to use the College's inventory as baseline data to inform the survey. Authorizes the College to use funds provided under this Act to undertake any renovations and repairs to the infrastructure of the College identified in the survey.

Date: 2015-07-07
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Native Americans
Tribal TANF Fairness Act of 2015

This bill amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act to allow a tribal government (including one participating in an intertribal consortium) to lease land held in trust or in fee, at a fair market rate, for the administration of a tribal family assistance grant by the tribal government or the intertribal consortium.

Date: 2015-07-10
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Social welfare
Tribal Tax Incentive for Renewable Energy Act of 2015

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow Indian tribes an election to transfer a portion of the energy tax credit to another taxpayer.

Date: 2015-07-13
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Taxation
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on March 10, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

(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.

Date: 2015-07-15
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Native Americans
Tribal Employment and Jobs Protection Act 

(Sec. 2) 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) any tribal employer. The bill defines "tribal employer" as: (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.

Date: 2015-07-15
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Health
This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to pay an unspecified sum to the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan and its members pursuant to a judgment rendered by the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

Date: 2015-07-21
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Native Americans
Reaffirms the trust status of land taken into trust by the United States pursuant to the Indian Reorganization Act before the date of enactment of this Act for the benefit of an Indian tribe that was federally recognized on the date the land was taken into trust.

Ratifies and confirms any action taken by the Department of the Interior for the purpose of acquiring and taking land into trust under such Act as if such action had been taken under a federal law specifically authorizing or directing it.

Makes this Act applicable to all claims pending on, or filed on or after, the date of enactment of this Act.

Requires any land taken into trust that has been ratified and confirmed pursuant to this Act to remain Indian country.

Date: 2015-07-21
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Native Americans
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Siletz Tribe Indian Restoration Act to authorize the Department of the Interior to take into trust for the Siletz Tribe additional lands that lie within the original 1855 Siletz Coast Reservation and are located in Benton, Douglas, Lane, Lincoln, Tillamook, or Yamhill County in Oregon.

Such land must be considered and evaluated as an on-reservation acquisition and become part of the tribe's reservation. (Off-reservation land acquisition requests require Interior to give greater scrutiny to the tribe's justification of the anticipated benefits from the acquisition.)

Gaming is prohibited on lands taken into trust pursuant to this bill.

Date: 2015-07-23
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Native Americans
This bill amends the Grand Ronde Reservation Act to permit the Department of the Interior to accept real property located within the boundaries of the original 1857 reservation of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon (comprising land within Polk and Yamhill Counties) that is transferred to the United States by or on behalf of the tribes.

Interior must treat applications to take land into trust within the boundaries of the original 1857 reservation as on-reservation trust acquisitions. Gaming is prohibited on such real property taken into trust, except for real property within two miles of a specified gaming facility. All real property taken into trust within those boundaries after September 9, 1988, is part of the tribes' reservation.

Date: 2015-07-23
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Native Americans
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.

Date: 2015-07-28
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Native Americans
Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act or the NATIVE Act

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 and tribal organizations. Plans must include proposals for improving collection and provision of tourism information and assisting Native American communities.

Interior and Commerce must: (1) work with a facilitator to provide technical assistance to Indian tribes and tribal organizations regarding participation in the tourism industry, and (2) report on departmental efforts supporting such participation.

Federal agencies must support the cultural activities of Indian tribes and tribal organizations and carry out activities to promote understanding and awareness of Indian tribes and tribal organizations.

Any grants for which Indian tribes or tribal 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, and nonprofits to share collections and conduct joint research and projects with museums, educational organizations, and cultural organizations.

Date: 2015-09-10
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Native Americans
Tribal Nutrition Improvement Act of 2015

This bill amends the Richard B. Russell National School Act to allow an Indian tribe to assume, from a nearby local educational agency (LEA) and in lieu of a state, responsibility for administration of the school breakfast program, the school lunch program, the child and adult care food program, or the summer food service program for children. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must identify, for optional use in LEAs on or near Indian reservations, alternatives to current program requirements related to the daily counting of meals by category, the use of annual applications to determine program eligibility, and the use of universal meal service. USDA may implement such alternatives, as limited by the bill, as well as further test them in demonstration projects.

The bill also amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to require USDA to increase the amount of administrative funds paid to an Indian tribe that agrees to assume responsibility for the administration of one of the aforementioned food programs.

Date: 2015-09-11
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Eastern Band Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act

This bill takes specified lands and easements in Monroe County, Tennessee, into trust for the benefit of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. These lands include the Sequoyah Museum, the Chota Memorial, the Tanasi Memorial, and land to provide support for these properties and cultural programs.

With the agreement of the Department of the Interior and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the United States must take into trust for the benefit of the tribe certain additional TVA lands and easements that are identified by the tribe as being of significant historical and cultural importance.

The TVA maintains its right to carry out river control and development on these lands, including temporarily and intermittently flooding certain lands. The bill specifies the structures that may be constructed with the TVA's consent on certain lands subject to flooding.

The TVA must be compensated for lost hydropower capacity from future development of these lands.

Gaming on these lands is prohibited.

Date: 2015-09-24
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Native Americans
Clatsop-Nehalem Restoration Act

This bill extends federal recognition to the Clatsop-Nehalem Confederated Tribes of Oregon.

Rights and privileges of the tribe and its members under any federal treaty, executive order, agreement, statute, or other federal authority that may have been diminished or lost under the Act approved August 13, 1954 are restored. That Act no longer applies to the tribe and its members.

The tribe and its members are eligible to receive all federal services and benefits furnished to federally recognized Indian tribes, without regard to the existence of a reservation. Members of the tribe residing in Tillamook and Clatsop Counties in Oregon are deemed to be residing on or near a reservation.

No hunting, fishing, or trapping rights of the tribe or of any member are granted or restored.

Lands in Tillamook County, Oregon may not be held in trust for the tribe.

An Interim Council is established as the governing body of the tribe until the tribal governing body convenes. The Department of the Interior must hold an election to elect the members of the Interim Council.

The membership roll of the tribe is established and opened.

Date: 2015-10-09
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Native Americans
Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians Reaffirmation Act

This bill reaffirms federal recognition and the rights and privileges of the Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians in Cheboygan County, Michigan. The band is eligible for all federal services and benefits available to other federally recognized Indian tribes. This bill designates the service area for the delivery of federal services to the band and to other Indians nearby.

The Department of the Interior must acquire land in Cheboygan County, Michigan, and other geographic areas and must hold these lands in trust for the benefit of the band.

This bill sets forth criteria and evidentiary requirements for determining the initial membership of the band. The band must provide a copy of its base roll to the Bureau of Indian Affairs within one year.

The initial constitution of the band shall be the constitution submitted by the band to the Office of Federal Acknowledgment on May 2, 2005.

Date: 2015-10-28
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Native Americans
This bill revises the area in which land may be transferred to or acquired by the Navajo Tribe to the area within 18 miles of the trust lands of the Navajo Tribe, including the bands of the tribe, as of January 2015.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands anywhere within Arizona and New Mexico may be exchanged for lands within 18 miles of those trust lands.

The Navajo Tribe may exchange up to 757 acres of resettlement land selected as of January 2014 with the BLM.

The Department of the Interior must report on annual rents owed by the Navajo Tribe to the Hopi Tribe for each of the years 2001-2014.

The Navajo Tribe may designate up to 150,000 acres within specified lands as Navajo Sovereignty Empowerment Zones. Specified laws do not apply within these zones. Federal agencies responsible for implementing laws that do not apply in these zones must transfer to the Navajo Tribe the funds the agencies would have expended implementing those laws in these zones.

This bill amends the Navajo-Hopi Land Dispute Settlement Act of 1996 to allow Navajo heads of household or their successors to relinquish an Accommodation Agreement with the Hopi Tribe regarding their residence on Hopi lands and receive relocation benefits.

The Navajo Rehabilitation Trust Fund is extended through FY2019 and revised to allow it to be used for the development of Navajo Sovereignty Empowerment Zones. The Navajo Tribe is no longer required to reimburse appropriations to the fund.

Date: 2015-11-03
Topic: Public Lands (Indigenous Affairs)
Subject: Native Americans