To amend the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act to authorize grants to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4276
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Native Americans
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-11-19: Subcommittee Hearings Held
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-22T18:21:53Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill (H.R. 4276) aims to expand support for tourism and visitor experiences in Native American and Native Hawaiian communities by amending the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act (a law from 2010 that promotes cultural tourism on tribal lands). Specifically, it authorizes new federal grant programs to help these communities develop and promote tourism.
Key Provisions
- Redesignation of Sections: The existing section 6 of the Act is renumbered as section 7 to make room for new content.
- New Grant Programs (Section 6):
- The Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (an agency within the Department of the Interior focused on tribal affairs) can provide grants or enter agreements with Indian tribes and tribal organizations to support the Act's goals, such as enhancing cultural tourism and visitor access.
- The Director of the Office of Native Hawaiian Relations (in the Department of the Interior) can provide similar grants or agreements to Native Hawaiian organizations.
- Leaders of other federal agencies—including the Departments of Commerce, Transportation, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, and Labor—can also offer grants or agreements to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations for these purposes.
- Funding Authorization: Allocates up to $35 million in federal funds for fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to support these grant programs.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- The original Act focused on creating a nonprofit organization (the Native American Tourism Alliance) to coordinate tourism efforts but did not include direct federal grant authority for tribes or Native Hawaiian groups.
- This amendment adds explicit grant-making powers to specific federal agencies, broadening access to funding and involving more departments beyond just Interior. It also extends benefits to Native Hawaiian organizations, which were not previously covered in this way.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Increases administrative responsibilities for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Native Hawaiian Relations, and other listed agencies to manage grants, potentially requiring new staff or processes for application reviews and fund distribution.
- On Citizens and Communities: Provides financial resources to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian groups to improve tourism infrastructure, cultural sites, and visitor programs, which could boost local economies through job creation and revenue from tourism.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though enhanced cultural tourism could indirectly promote U.S. Native heritage to international visitors, fostering cultural exchange.
- Overall, it could lead to more sustainable tourism in underserved Native areas, benefiting visitors with better experiences while supporting community preservation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Primary Beneficiaries: Indian tribes, tribal organizations (groups representing tribal interests), and Native Hawaiian organizations, who gain access to federal grants for tourism projects.
- Federal Government Entities: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Native Hawaiian Relations, and agencies like Commerce (trade and economic development), Transportation (infrastructure), Agriculture (rural development), Health and Human Services (community health tied to tourism), and Labor (workforce training).
- Indirectly Affected: Tourism industry operators, local businesses near tribal lands, and the general public interested in cultural travel.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens implementation of the original Act by providing dedicated funding, aligning with federal trust responsibilities to support Native American and Native Hawaiian self-determination (a legal obligation rooted in treaties and statutes). No new regulatory burdens are imposed.
- Constitutional: Reinforces principles of tribal sovereignty by empowering tribes and Native Hawaiian groups with federal resources, without infringing on states' rights or individual liberties.
- Political: Represents bipartisan support for Native issues (introduced by Rep. Case, D-HI), potentially advancing economic equity for indigenous communities amid broader discussions on federal-tribal relations. It could set a precedent for multi-agency collaboration on Native tourism funding.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-11-19: Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 2025-11-12: Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs.
- 2025-07-02: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-07-02: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-07-02: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-07-02: Introduced in House
- 2025-07-02: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E641)
- 2025-07-02: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To amend the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act to authorize grants to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations, and for other purposes. — issued 2025-07-02 — PDF (3 pages)