§2907 Survey on Native American Languages

Summary

The Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Administration for Native Americans, must do a national survey about the use of all Native American languages in the United States. The first survey must happen no later than 18 months after January 5, 2023, and then every 5 years after that. The survey must be designed with input from Indian tribes and from Native language speakers and experts. It must ask which languages are spoken, how many speakers each language has, other relevant language use facts, what language maintenance and revitalization work is happening, any unmet resource needs, and any other information tribes and experts think is needed. The Secretary may work with the Census Bureau. No tribe, community, or speaker has to take part or to give sensitive information. The Secretary must share outreach and engagement information about chances to give input, the survey’s purpose, and why participation matters. Outreach can be done directly, with the Census, or by grants or contracts to tribes, tribal groups, or nonprofits. Not later than 1 year after January 5, 2023, and before each survey, the Secretary must give the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and the House Committees on Education and Labor and Natural Resources, and the public, a description of the feedback, the survey form, the deployment plan, and how the work will be culturally appropriate. Within 90 days after each survey’s analysis is finished, the Secretary must give those committees and the public the survey results. Up to $1,500,000 may be appropriated for each fiscal year before and during a survey year to carry out these duties.