[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 137 (Monday, September 12, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H5289-H5292]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIVE AMERICAN TOURISM AND IMPROVING VISITOR EXPERIENCE ACT
Mrs. RADEWAGEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
[[Page H5290]]
bill (S. 1579) to enhance and integrate Native American tourism,
empower Native American communities, increase coordination and
collaboration between Federal tourism assets, and expand heritage and
cultural tourism opportunities in the United States.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 1579
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Native American Tourism and
Improving Visitor Experience Act'' or the ``NATIVE Act''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to enhance and integrate Native American tourism--
(A) to empower Native American communities; and
(B) to advance the National Travel and Tourism Strategy;
(2) to increase coordination and collaboration between
Federal tourism assets to support Native American tourism and
bolster recreational travel and tourism;
(3) to expand heritage and cultural tourism opportunities
in the United States to spur economic development, create
jobs, and increase tourism revenues;
(4) to enhance and improve self-determination and self-
governance capabilities in the Native American community and
to promote greater self-sufficiency;
(5) to encourage Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and
Native Hawaiian organizations to engage more fully in Native
American tourism activities to increase visitation to rural
and remote areas in the United States that are too difficult
to access or are unknown to domestic travelers and
international tourists;
(6) to provide grants, loans, and technical assistance to
Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian
organizations that will--
(A) spur important infrastructure development;
(B) increase tourism capacity; and
(C) elevate living standards in Native American
communities; and
(7) to support the development of technologically
innovative projects that will incorporate recreational travel
and tourism information and data from Federal assets to
improve the visitor experience.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Agency.--The term ``agency'' has the meaning given the
term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.
(2) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the
meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).
(3) Native hawaiian organization.--The term ``Native
Hawaiian organization'' means a nonprofit organization--
(A) that serves the interests of Native Hawaiians;
(B) in which Native Hawaiians serve in substantive and
policymaking positions; and
(C) that is recognized for having expertise in Native
Hawaiian culture and heritage, including tourism.
(4) Tribal organization.--The term ``tribal organization''
has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
450b).
SEC. 4. INTEGRATING FEDERAL TOURISM ASSETS TO STRENGTHEN
NATIVE TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES.
(a) Secretary of Commerce and Secretary of the Interior.--
The Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior
shall update the respective management plans and tourism
initiatives of the Department of Commerce and the Department
of the Interior to include Indian tribes, tribal
organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations.
(b) Other Agencies.--The head of each agency that has
recreational travel or tourism functions or complementary
programs shall update the respective management plans and
tourism strategies of the agency to include Indian tribes,
tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations.
(c) Native American Tourism Plans.--
(1) In general.--The plans shall outline policy proposals--
(A) to improve travel and tourism data collection and
analysis;
(B) to increase the integration, alignment, and utility of
public records, publications, and Web sites maintained by
Federal agencies;
(C) to create a better user experience for domestic
travelers and international visitors;
(D) to align Federal agency Web sites and publications;
(E) to support national tourism goals;
(F) to identify agency programs that could be used to
support tourism capacity building and help sustain tourism
infrastructure in Native American communities;
(G) to develop innovative visitor portals for parks,
landmarks, heritage and cultural sites, and assets that
showcase and respect the diversity of the indigenous peoples
of the United States;
(H) to share local Native American heritage through the
development of bilingual interpretive and directional signage
that could include or incorporate English and the local
Native American language or languages; and
(I) to improve access to transportation programs related to
Native American community capacity building for tourism and
trade, including transportation planning for programs related
to visitor enhancement and safety.
(2) Consultation with indian tribes and native americans.--
In developing the plan under paragraph (1), the head of each
agency shall consult with Indian tribes and the Native
American community to identify appropriate levels of
inclusion of the Indian tribes and Native Americans in
Federal tourism activities, public records and publications,
including Native American tourism information available on
Web sites.
(d) Technical Assistance.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior, in
consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, shall enter into
a memorandum of understanding or cooperative agreement with
an entity or organization with a demonstrated record in
tribal communities of defining, introducing, developing, and
sustaining American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native
Hawaiian tourism and related activities in a manner that
respects and honors native traditions and values.
(2) Coordination.--The memorandum of understanding or
cooperative agreement described in paragraph (1) shall
formalize a role for the organization or entity to serve as a
facilitator between the Secretary of the Interior and the
Secretary of Commerce and the Indian tribes, tribal
organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations--
(A) to identify areas where technical assistance is needed
through consultations with Indian tribes, tribal
organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations to empower
the Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian
organizations to participate fully in the tourism industry;
and
(B) to provide a means for the delivery of technical
assistance and coordinate the delivery of the assistance to
Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian
organizations in collaboration with the Secretary of the
Interior, the Secretary of Commerce, and other entities with
distinctive experience, as appropriate.
(3) Funding.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations, the head of each Federal agency, including
the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Commerce, the
Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Agriculture,
the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Secretary
of Labor shall obligate any funds made available to the head
of the agency to cover any administrative expenses incurred
by the organization or entity described in paragraph (1) in
carrying out programs or activities of the agency.
(4) Metrics.--The Secretary of the Interior and the
Secretary of Commerce shall coordinate with the organization
or entity described in paragraph (1) to develop metrics to
measure the effectiveness of the entity or organization in
strengthening tourism opportunities for Indian tribes, tribal
organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations.
(e) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, and occasionally thereafter, the
Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce shall
each submit to the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate
and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives a report that describes--
(1) the manner in which the Secretary of the Interior or
the Secretary of Commerce, as applicable, is including Indian
tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian
organizations in management plans;
(2) the efforts of the Secretary of the Interior or the
Secretary of Commerce, as applicable, to develop departmental
and agency tourism plans to support tourism programs of
Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian
organizations;
(3) the manner in which the entity or organization
described in subsection (d)(1) is working to promote tourism
to empower Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native
Hawaiian organizations to participate fully in the tourism
industry; and
(4) the effectiveness of the entity or organization
described in subsection (d)(1) based on the metrics developed
under subsection (d)(4).
SEC. 5. NATIVE AMERICAN TOURISM AND BRANDING ENHANCEMENT.
(a) In General.--The head of each agency shall--
(1) take actions that help empower Indian tribes, tribal
organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations to showcase
the heritage, foods, traditions, history, and continuing
vitality of Native American communities;
(2) support the efforts of Indian tribes, tribal
organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations--
(A) to identify and enhance or maintain traditions and
cultural features that are important to sustain the
distinctiveness of the local Native American community; and
(B) to provide visitor experiences that are authentic and
respectful;
(3) provide assistance to interpret the connections between
the indigenous peoples of the United States and the national
identity of the United States;
(4) enhance efforts to promote understanding and respect
for diverse cultures and
[[Page H5291]]
subcultures in the United States and the relevance of those
cultures to the national brand of the United States; and
(5) enter into appropriate memoranda of understanding and
establish public-private partnerships to ensure that arriving
domestic travelers at airports and arriving international
visitors at ports of entry are welcomed in a manner that both
showcases and respects the diversity of Native American
communities.
(b) Grants.--To the extent practicable, grant programs
relating to travel, recreation, or tourism administered by
the Commissioner of the Administration for Native Americans,
Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, Chairman of
the National Endowment for the Humanities, or the head of an
agency with assets or resources relating to travel,
recreation, or tourism promotion or branding enhancement for
which Indian tribes, tribal organizations, or Native Hawaiian
organizations are eligible may be used--
(1) to support the efforts of Indian tribes, tribal
organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations to tell the
story of Native Americans as the First Peoples of the United
States;
(2) to use the arts and humanities to help revitalize
Native communities, promote economic development, increase
livability, and present the uniqueness of the United States
to visitors in a way that celebrates the diversity of the
United States; and
(3) to carry out this section.
(c) Smithsonian.--The Advisory Council and the Board of
Regents of the Smithsonian Institution shall work with Indian
tribes, tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations,
and nonprofit organizations to establish long-term
partnerships with non-Smithsonian museums and educational and
cultural organizations--
(1) to share collections, exhibitions, interpretive
materials, and educational strategies; and
(2) to conduct joint research and collaborative projects
that would support tourism efforts for Indian tribes, tribal
organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations and carry
out the intent of this section.
SEC. 6. EFFECT.
Nothing in this Act alters, or demonstrates congressional
support for the alteration of, the legal relationship between
the United States and any American Indian, Alaska Native, or
Native Hawaiian individual, group, organization, or entity.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
American Samoa (Mrs. Radewagen) and the gentleman from the Northern
Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from American Samoa.
General Leave
Mrs. RADEWAGEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from American Samoa?
There was no objection.
Mrs. RADEWAGEN. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1579, the Native American
Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act, commonly known as the
NATIVE Act. This bill would require Federal agencies with recreational
travel and tourism functions to include Indian tribes and tribal
organization in management plans. Furthermore, the bill requires the
Department of Commerce and the Department of the Interior to report on
how each Department is including tribes to develop Native American
tourism plans to improve travel and tourism data collection.
The U.S. Travel Association estimates that the tourism industry in
the United States topped $220 billion in 2014. According to the
American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association, there is growing
interest in Indian Country as a tourist attraction.
This bill would help strengthen coordination and collaboration
between Federal agencies where tourism programs currently exist without
requiring any new appropriations. By removing any silo systems within
government, tribes can seek to seize economic opportunities.
S. 1579 is the companion bill to H.R. 3477, sponsored by the
gentleman from Oklahoma, Congressman Markwayne Mullin. I want to thank
him for his hard work on this legislation.
I include in the Record an exchange of letters between the chairman
of Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on House
Administration regarding this bill, and we thank them for agreeing to
help expedite consideration of this bill today.
House of Representatives,
Committee on Natural Resources,
Washington, DC, August 24, 2016.
Hon. Candice Miller,
Chairman, Committee on House Administration, Washington, DC.
Dear Madam Chairman: On July 13, 2016, the Committee on
Natural Resources favorably reported S. 1579, Native American
Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act, by unanimous
consent. This bill was referred primarily to the Committee on
Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on House
Administration and Energy and Commerce. My staff has
forwarded the reported text to your committee for review.
Based on this text, I ask that you allow the Committee on
House Administration to be discharged from further
consideration of the bill so that it may be scheduled by the
Majority Leader. This discharge in no way affects your
jurisdiction over the subject matter of the bill, and it will
not serve as precedent for future referrals. In addition,
should a conference on the bill be necessary, I would support
your request to have the Committee on House Administration be
represented on the conference committee. Finally, I would be
pleased to include this letter and any response in the bill
report filed by the Committee on Natural Resources to
memorialize our understanding, as well as in the
Congressional Record.
Thank you for your consideration of my request, and I look
forward to further opportunities to work with you this
Congress.
Sincerely,
Rob Bishop,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on House Administration,
Washington, DC, August 24, 2016.
Hon. Rob Bishop,
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding S.
1579. As you know, the bill was received in the House of
Representatives on June 15, 2015, and referred primarily to
the Committee on Natural Resources and in addition to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on House
Administration. The bill seeks to enhance and integrate
Native American tourism, empower Native American communities,
increase coordination and collaboration between Federal
tourism assets, and expand heritage and cultural tourism
opportunities in the United States. On July 13, 2016, your
Committee ordered S. 1579 to be reported by unanimous
consent.
The Committee on House Administration agrees to discharge
from further consideration of S. 1579 to expedite floor
consideration. It is the understanding of the Committee on
House Administration that forgoing action on S. 1579 will not
prejudice the Committee with respect to appointment of
conferees or any future jurisdictional claim. I request that
your letter and this response be included in the bill report
filed by your Committee, as well as in the Congressional
Record.
Sincerely,
Candice Miller,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Natural Resources,
Washington, DC, September 6, 2016.
Hon. Fred Upton,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: On July 13, 2016, the Committee on
Natural Resources favorably reported S. 1579, Native American
Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act, by unanimous
consent. This bill was referred primarily to the Committee on
Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on
Energy and Commerce and House Administration. My staff has
forwarded the reported text to your committee for review.
Based on this text, I ask that you allow the Committee on
Energy and Commerce to be discharged from further
consideration of the bill so that it may be scheduled by the
Majority Leader. This discharge in no way affects your
jurisdiction over the subject matter of the bill, and it will
not serve as precedent for future referrals. In addition,
should a conference on the bill be necessary, I would support
your request to have the Committee on Energy and Commerce be
represented on the conference committee. Finally, I would be
pleased to include this letter and any response in the bill
report filed by the Committee on Natural Resources to
memorialize our understanding, as well as in the
Congressional Record.
Thank you for your consideration of my request, and I look
forward to further opportunities to work with you this
Congress.
Sincerely,
Rob Bishop,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Energy and Commerce,
Washington, DC, September 6, 2016.
Hon. Rob Bishop,
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Bishop: I write in regard to S. 1579, NATIVE
Act, which was recently ordered to be reported by the
Committee on
[[Page H5292]]
Natural Resources. As you are aware, the bill also was
referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. I wanted to
notify you that the Committee on Energy and Commerce will
forgo action on S. 1579 so that it may proceed expeditiously
to the House floor for consideration.
This is done with the understanding that the Committee on
Energy and Commerce's jurisdictional interests over this and
similar legislation are in no way diminished or altered.
I would appreciate your response confirming this
understanding with respect to S. 1579 and ask that a copy of
our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the
Congressional Record during consideration of the bill on the
House floor.
Sincerely,
Fred Upton,
Chairman.
Mrs. RADEWAGEN. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of S. 1579, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Like many other communities around the country, tribes and tribal
organizations are looking for ways to attract the business of overseas
tourists; and there is a significant opportunity for tribes and Native
people to share and reinforce their cultures, generate income, create
jobs, and improve their quality of life through increased tourism.
According to the Department of Commerce, as my colleague alluded to
earlier, tourism was almost a quarter-of-a-trillion-dollar industry in
2014, with almost 34 million overseas travelers visiting the United
States. And overseas travelers to the United States who visit national
parks or tribal lands tend to stay longer in the United States, visit
more destinations within the country, and are more likely to be repeat
visitors.
However, there are currently no tourism initiatives at the Federal
level that include tribes and tribal organizations. The NATIVE Act
would remedy that situation by encouraging Federal programs that
support tourism and tourism infrastructure to engage with our Native
American communities. This will increase tribal opportunity to showcase
the rich and diverse history of the indigenous peoples of the United
States.
I commend Senator Schatz of Hawaii for this legislation. I ask my
colleagues to support S. 1579.
Having no further speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. RADEWAGEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support S. 1579, the Native
American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience (NATIVE) Act. This
bill will advance Indian Country tourism by requiring federal agencies
with recreational travel and tourism functions to include Indian tribes
and tribal organizations in updated management plans and develop Native
American tourism.
Anecdotally, we know the foreign tourists have a keen interest in our
Indian history and culture. This bill will enable the collection of
vital travel and tourism data and analysis and, importantly, increase
integration of federal assets to Indian Country so they can advance
their economic development goals and tribal sovereignty.
Indian Country is a mosaic with vibrant cultures and a rich
assortment of languages and traditions. By promoting this vast array of
authentic Native tourism assets, the United States can increase its
ability to compete for international visitors seeking a uniquely
American experience while ensuring that diverse Native communities
contribute to, and benefit from, the economic benefits that travel
affords.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from American Samoa (Mrs. Radewagen) that the House suspend
the rules and pass the bill, S. 1579.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________