PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

Creates an Office of Native American Business Development inside the Office of the Secretary. The office is led by a Director chosen by the Secretary and paid at a rate not to exceed level V of the Executive Schedule. The Secretary, through the Director, must coordinate federal programs that give financial and technical help to eligible entities to grow businesses, expand trade, and boost economic development on Indian lands. The office works with other agencies (like the Department of the Interior, SBA, and Labor) and supports activities such as legal, accounting, and financial help; market research; promotional materials; business seminars; marketing and trade-fair participation; and other market‑development actions. It must prioritize work that gives the biggest economic benefits to Indians and helps build long‑term tribal economies. The office cannot fund activities related to operating gaming on Indian lands under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The Director advises the Secretary on the government-to-tribe relationship and is the main contact for Tribes, tribal groups, and Indians about Commerce Department programs and doing business on Indian lands. The Director must make sure Commerce offices coordinate and consult with Tribes in a timely, accountable way. Up to $2,000,000 for each fiscal year is authorized to run the office.

Title 25, §4303

Indians, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

(1)Establishment

There is established within the Office of the Secretary an office known as the Office of Native American Business Development.

(2)Director

The Office shall be headed by a Director, appointed by the Secretary, whose title shall be the Director of Native American Business Development. The Director shall be compensated at a rate not to exceed level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5.

(b)Duties of the Secretary

(1)In general

The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall ensure the coordination of Federal programs that provide assistance, including financial and technical assistance, to eligible entities for increased business, the expansion of trade by eligible entities, and economic development on Indian lands.

(2)Interagency coordination

The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall coordinate Federal programs relating to Indian economic development, including any such program of the Department of the Interior, the Small Business Administration, the Department of Labor, or any other Federal agency charged with Indian economic development responsibilities.

(3)Activities

In carrying out the duties described in paragraph (1), the Secretary, acting through the Director, shall ensure the coordination of, or, as appropriate, carry out—

(A)Federal programs designed to provide legal, accounting, or financial assistance to eligible entities;

(B)market surveys;

(C)the development of promotional materials;

(D)the financing of business development seminars;

(E)the facilitation of marketing;

(F)the participation of appropriate Federal agencies or eligible entities in trade fairs;

(G)any activity that is not described in subparagraphs (A) through (F) that is related to the development of appropriate markets; and

(H)any other activity that the Secretary, in consultation with the Director, determines to be appropriate to carry out this section.

(4)Assistance

In conjunction with the activities described in paragraph (3), the Secretary, acting through the Director, shall provide—

(A)financial assistance, technical assistance, and administrative services to eligible entities to assist those entities with—

(i)identifying and taking advantage of business development opportunities; and

(ii)compliance with appropriate laws and regulatory practices; and

(B)such other assistance as the Secretary, in consultation with the Director, determines to be necessary for the development of business opportunities for eligible entities to enhance the economies of Indian Tribes.

(5)Priorities

In carrying out the duties and activities described in paragraphs (3) and (4), the Secretary, acting through the Director, shall give priority to activities that—

(A)provide the greatest degree of economic benefits to Indians; and

(B)foster long-term stable economies of Indian Tribes.

(6)Prohibition

The Secretary may not provide under this section assistance for any activity related to the operation of a gaming activity on Indian lands pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act [25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.].

(c)Duties of Director

(1)In general

The Director shall serve as—

(A)the program and policy advisor to the Secretary with respect to the trust and governmental relationship between the United States and Indian Tribes; and

(B)the point of contact for Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Indians regarding—

(i)policies and programs of the Department of Commerce; and

(ii)other matters relating to economic development and doing business in Indian lands.

(2)Departmental coordination

The Director shall coordinate with all offices and agencies within the Department of Commerce to ensure that each office and agency has an accountable process to ensure—

(A)meaningful and timely coordination and assistance, as required by this chapter; and

(B)consultation with Indian Tribes regarding the policies, programs, assistance, and activities of the offices and agencies.

(3)Office operations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section not more than $2,000,000 for each fiscal year.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(6), is Pub. L. 100–497, Oct. 17, 1988, 102 Stat. 2467, as amended, which is classified principally to chapter 29 (§ 2701 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 2701 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

2020—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 116–261, § 3(c)(1)(A), substituted “Office of the Secretary” for “Department of Commerce” and struck out “(referred to in this chapter as the ‘Office’)” before period at end. Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 116–261, § 3(c)(1)(B), struck out “(referred to in this chapter as the ‘Director’)” after “Development”. Subsec. (b)(4)(B), (5)(B). Pub. L. 116–261, § 3(e)(2), substituted “Tribes” for “tribes”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 116–261, § 3(c)(2), added subsec. (c).

§4303 Office of Native American Business Development