§2907 Survey on Native American Languages

Summary

The Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Administration for Native Americans, must carry out a national survey on the use of all Native American languages no later than 18 months after January 5, 2023, and then again every 5 years. Before each new survey, the Secretary must update its design. The surveys must be made with input from Indian tribes and after hearing from Native language speakers and experts. They will ask which languages are spoken, how many people speak each one, other relevant usage data, what language revival and maintenance projects are happening, any unmet resource needs, and any other information the Secretary and consultants decide is necessary. The Secretary may work with the Census Bureau and must do outreach to tribes, language communities, and the public about how to give input, the survey goals, and why participation matters. Participation is voluntary and no one must give culturally sensitive information. Before each survey (and no later than 1 year after January 5, 2023 for the first), the Secretary must send and publish a description of the survey design, deployment plan, feedback received, and how enumeration will be culturally informed to the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate and the Committees on Education and Labor and Natural Resources of the House of Representatives. Survey results must be sent and published within 90 days after analysis is finished. Up to $1,500,000 may be appropriated for each fiscal year before and during a survey year.