§6921 Office of Tribal Relations

Summary

The Secretary of Agriculture must keep an Office of Tribal Relations to give advice on policies affecting Indian tribes and do other related work. The Secretary must create a Tribal Advisory Committee of 11 people to advise on Tribal and Indian matters and to help with government-to-government consultations without replacing them. Members are chosen by the Secretary and leaders of three Congressional committees. Tribes, tribal organizations, and national or regional groups with relevant expertise can nominate people. Members must come from varied regions and tribal and farming backgrounds. They cannot be federal employees. Terms are 3 years (the first three Secretary appointees serve 2 years). Members may be reappointed up to three consecutive times. Any vacancy must be filled within 90 days. The Committee must meet in person at least twice a year. A representative from the Office of Tribal Relations and the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs (or a designee) must attend as nonvoting participants. The Committee must find issues that affect tribes, tell the Secretary about them, recommend solutions, discuss needed changes to rules and policies, set consultation priorities, make sure tribes get timely notice for feedback, and try to fix problems between agencies. Each year the Committee must send a report of its activities and recommendations to the Secretary and to the relevant Congressional committees. The Secretary must reply in writing within 45 days. Committee members are paid at the daily rate equal to Executive Schedule level IV. Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act does not apply. "Indian tribe" and "tribal organization" use the meanings in 25 U.S.C. 5304. The relevant Congressional committees are the House Agriculture Committee, the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, and the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.