7 USC 6921 - Office of Tribal Relations

View all text of Subchapter I [§ 6911 - § 6925]

§ 6921. Office of Tribal Relations

(a) In general

(b) Tribal Advisory Committee

(1) DefinitionsIn this subsection:

(A) Indian tribe

(B) Relevant committees of CongressThe term “relevant committees of Congress” means—

(i) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives;

(ii) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate; and

(iii) the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate.

(2) Establishment of committee

(A) In general

(B) Facilitation

(3) Membership

(A) CompositionThe Committee shall be composed of 11 members, of whom—

(i) 3 shall be appointed by the Secretary;

(ii) 1 shall be appointed by the chairperson of the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate;

(iii) 1 shall be appointed by the ranking member of the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate;

(iv) 1 shall be appointed by the chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate;

(v) 1 shall be appointed by the ranking member of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate;

(vi) 2 shall be appointed by the chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives; and

(vii) 2 shall be appointed by the ranking member of the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives.

(B) NominationsThe Secretary shall accept nominations for members of the Committee from any of the following:

(i) An Indian tribe.

(ii) A tribal organization.

(iii) A national or regional organization with expertise in issues relating to the duties of the Committee described in paragraph (4).

(D) Limitation

(E) Period of appointment; vacancies

(i) In generalEach member of the Committee—(I) subject to clause (ii), shall be appointed to a 3-year term; and(II) may be reappointed to not more than 3 consecutive terms.

(ii) Initial staggering

(iii) Vacancies

(F) Meetings

(i) In general

(ii) Office of Tribal Relations representative

(iii) Department of Interior representative

(iv) Nonvoting representatives

(4) Duties of CommitteeThe Committee shall—

(A) identify evolving issues of relevance to Indian tribes relating to programs of the Department;

(B) communicate to the Secretary the issues identified under subparagraph (A);

(i) the issues identified under subparagraph (A);

(ii) issues raised at the Tribal, regional, or national level; and

(iii) issues relating to any Tribal consultation carried out by the Department;

(D) discuss issues and proposals for changes to the regulations, policies, and procedures of the Department that impact Indian tribes;

(E) identify priorities and provide advice on appropriate strategies for Tribal consultation on issues at the Tribal, regional, or national level regarding the Department;

(F) ensure that pertinent issues of the Department are brought to the attention of an Indian tribe in a timely manner so that timely feedback from an Indian tribe can be obtained; and

(G) identify and propose solutions to any interdepartmental barrier between the Department and other Federal agencies.

(5) Reports

(A) In generalNot less frequently than once each year, the Committee shall submit to the Secretary and the relevant committees of Congress a report that describes—

(i) the activities of the Committee during the previous year; and

(ii) recommendations for legislative or administrative action for the following year.

(B) Response from SecretaryNot more than 45 days after the date on which the Secretary receives a report under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall submit a written response to that report to—

(i) the Committee; and

(ii) the relevant committees of Congress.

(6) Compensation of members

(7) Federal Advisory Committee Act exemption

(Pub. L. 103–354, title III, § 309, as added Pub. L. 113–79, title XII, § 12303, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 985; amended Pub. L. 115–334, title XII, § 12303, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4962.)