Bill · S. 612· Senate(119-S-612)
A bill 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.
- Introduced
- 2/18/2025
- Last activity
- 12/17/2025 — Held at the desk.
- Sponsored by
- Brian Schatz
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Awaiting House
What this bill would do
This bill aims to amend the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act. It seeks to authorize various grant programs for Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations. The Bureau of Indian Affairs is authorized to make grants and enter into agreements with tribes and tribal organizations. Additionally, the Office of Native Hawaiian Relations may make grants and enter into agreements with Native Hawaiian organizations. Other Federal agencies, such as those overseeing Commerce, Transportation, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, and Labor, are also authorized to provide these grants. Finally, the bill authorizes $35,000,000 for these purposes for fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
Yes· 3 of 13
Would Native Americans be better off under this?+7
The bill provides significant funding and grant authority specifically for Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations.
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?+6
The bill promotes economic equity for Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations through dedicated grant programs.
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+5
The bill supports economic development in rural tribal and Native Hawaiian areas.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Grant Authority for Tribes and Organizations: The Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs may make grants and enter into agreements with Indian tribes and tribal organizations to carry out the purposes of the Act (Section 1, subsection a).
-
Support for Native Hawaiian Organizations: The Director of the Office of Native Hawaiian Relations may make grants and enter into agreements with Native Hawaiian organizations to carry out the purposes of the Act (Section 1, subsection b).
-
Inter-Agency Support: Heads of other Federal agencies, including Commerce, Transportation, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, and Labor, are authorized to make grants or enter into agreements with Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations (Section 1, subsection c).
-
Dedicated Funding: The bill authorizes $35,000,000 to carry out these grant programs for the period of fiscal years 2025 through 2029 (Section 1, subsection d).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts or burdens are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Native Americans+7Good For Rural Residents+5Good For Business Owners+4Good For Low Income Households+3
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Job Creation+5Improves Economic Growth+4Improves Small Business Support+3
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+6Improves Poverty Reduction+4
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+5Improves Public Land Management+2Improves Roads And Bridges+2
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+1
- 12/17/2025
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Held at the desk.
- Received in the House.
- 12/16/2025
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8752; text: CR S8752)
- 5/8/2025
- Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 119-20.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 72.
- 3/5/2025
- Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 2/18/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Lisa MurkowskiRepublican · Alaska