#aadth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #aegi ,,an ,,act ,to enhance and integrate ,native ,american tourism1 empower ,native ,american communities1 increase coordination and collaboration between ,federal tourism assets1 and expand heritage and cultural tourism opportunities in the ,united ,states4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,native ,american ,tourism and ,improving ,visitor ,experience ,act or the ,,native ,act4 #b4 ,purposes ,the purposes of this ,act are-- 7#a7 to enhance and integrate ,native ,american tourism-- 7,a7 to empower ,native ,american communities2 and 7,b7 to advance the ,national ,travel and ,tourism ,strategy2 7#b7 to increase coordination and collaboration between ,federal tourism assets to support ,native ,american tourism and bolster recreational travel and tourism2 7#c7 to expand heritage and cultural tourism opportunities in the ,united ,states to spur economic development1 create jobs1 and increase tourism revenues2 7#d7 to enhance and improve self-determination and self-governance capabilities in the ,native ,american community and to promote greater self-sufficiency2 7#e7 to encourage ,indian tribes1 tribal organizations1 and ,native ,hawaiian organizations to engage more fully in ,native ,american tourism activities to increase visitation to rural and remote areas in the ,united ,states that are too difficult to access or are unknown to domestic travelers and international tourists2 7#f7 to provide grants1 loans1 and technical assistance to ,indian tribes1 tribal organizations1 and ,native ,hawaiian organizations that will-- 7,a7 spur important infrastructure development2 7,b7 increase tourism capacity2 and 7,c7 elevate living standards in ,native ,american communities2 and 7#g7 to support the development of technologically innovative projects that will incorporate recreational travel and tourism information and data from ,federal assets to improve the visitor experience4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,agency ,the term agency has the meaning given the term in section #eea of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#b7 ,indian tribe ,the term ,indian tribe has the meaning given the term in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #dej;b74 7#c7 ,native ,hawaiian organization ,the term ,native ,hawaiian organization means a nonprofit organization-- 7,a7 that serves the interests of ,native ,hawaiians2 7,b7 in which ,native ,hawaiians serve in substantive and policymaking positions2 and 7,c7 that is recognized for having expertise in ,native ,hawaiian culture and heritage1 including tourism4 7#d7 ,tribal organization ,the term tribal organization has the meaning given the term in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #dej;b74 #d4 ,integrating ,federal tourism assets to strengthen ,native tourism opportunities 7a7 ,secretary of ,commerce and ,secretary of the ,interior ,the ,secretary of ,commerce and the ,secretary of the ,interior shall update the respective management plans and tourism initiatives of the ,department of ,commerce and the ,department of the ,interior to include ,indian tribes1 tribal organizations1 and ,native ,hawaiian organizations4 7b7 ,other agencies ,the head of each agency that has recreational travel or tourism functions or complementary programs shall update the respective management plans and tourism strategies of the agency to include ,indian tribes1 tribal organizations1 and ,native ,hawaiian organizations4 7c7 ,native ,american tourism plans 7#a7 ,in general ,the plans shall outline policy proposals-- 7,a7 to improve travel and tourism data collection and analysis2 7,b7 to increase the integration1 alignment1 and utility of public records1 publications1 and ,web sites maintained by ,federal agencies2 7,c7 to create a better user experience for domestic travelers and international visitors2 7,d7 to align ,federal agency ,web sites and publications2 7,e7 to support national tourism goals2 7,f7 to identify agency programs that could be used to support tourism capacity building and help sustain tourism infrastructure in ,native ,american communities2 7,g7 to develop innovative visitor portals for parks1 landmarks1 heritage and cultural sites1 and assets that showcase and respect the diversity of the indigenous peoples of the ,united ,states2 7,h7 to share local ,native ,american heritage through the development of bilingual interpretive and directional signage that could include or incorporate ,english and the local ,native ,american language or languages2 and 7,i7 to improve access to transportation programs related to ,native ,american community capacity building for tourism and trade1 including transportation planning for programs related to visitor enhancement and safety4 7#b7 ,consultation with ,indian tribes and ,native ,americans ,in developing the plan under paragraph 7#a71 the head of each agency shall consult with ,indian tribes and the ,native ,american community to identify appropriate levels of inclusion of the ,indian tribes and ,native ,americans in ,federal tourism activities1 public records and publications1 including ,native ,american tourism information available on ,web sites4 7d7 ,technical assistance 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of the ,interior1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,commerce1 shall enter into a memorandum of understanding or cooperative agreement with an entity or organization with a demonstrated record in tribal communities of defining1 introducing1 developing1 and sustaining ,american ,indian1 ,alaska ,native1 and ,native ,hawaiian tourism and related activities in a manner that respects and honors native traditions and values4 7#b7 ,coordination ,the memorandum of understanding or cooperative agreement described in paragraph 7#a7 shall formalize a role for the organization or entity to serve as a facilitator between the ,secretary of the ,interior and the ,secretary of ,commerce and the ,indian tribes1 tribal organizations1 and ,native ,hawaiian organizations-- 7,a7 to identify areas where technical assistance is needed through consultations with ,indian tribes1 tribal organizations1 and ,native ,hawaiian organizations to empower the ,indian tribes1 tribal organizations1 and ,native ,hawaiian organizations to participate fully in the tourism industry2 and 7,b7 to provide a means for the delivery of technical assistance and coordinate the delivery of the assistance to ,indian tribes1 tribal organizations1 and ,native ,hawaiian organizations in collaboration with the ,secretary of the ,interior1 the ,secretary of ,commerce1 and other entities with distinctive experience1 as appropriate4 7#c7 ,funding ,subject to the availability of appropriations1 the head of each ,federal agency1 including the ,secretary of the ,interior1 the ,secretary of ,commerce1 the ,secretary of ,transportation1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 and the ,secretary of ,labor shall obligate any funds made available to the head of the agency to cover any administrative expenses incurred by the organization or entity described in paragraph 7#a7 in carrying out programs or activities of the agency4 7#d7 ,metrics ,the ,secretary of the ,interior and the ,secretary of ,commerce shall coordinate with the organization or entity described in paragraph 7#a7 to develop metrics to measure the effectiveness of the entity or organization in strengthening tourism opportunities for ,indian tribes1 tribal organizations1 and ,native ,hawaiian organizations4 7e7 ,reports ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and occasionally thereafter1 the ,secretary of the ,interior and the ,secretary of ,commerce shall each submit to the ,committee on ,indian ,affairs of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,natural ,resources of the ,house of ,representatives a report that describes-- 7#a7 the manner in which the ,secretary of the ,interior or the ,secretary of ,commerce1 as applicable1 is including ,indian tribes1 tribal organizations1 and ,native ,hawaiian organizations in management plans2 7#b7 the efforts of the ,secretary of the ,interior or the ,secretary of ,commerce1 as applicable1 to develop departmental and agency tourism plans to support tourism programs of ,indian tribes1 tribal organizations1 and ,native ,hawaiian organizations2 7#c7 the manner in which the entity or organization described in subsection 7d77#a7 is working to promote tourism to empower ,indian tribes1 tribal organizations1 and ,native ,hawaiian organizations to participate fully in the tourism industry2 and 7#d7 the effectiveness of the entity or organization described in subsection 7d77#a7 based on the metrics developed under subsection 7d77#d74 #e4 ,native ,american tourism and branding enhancement 7a7 ,in general ,the head of each agency shall-- 7#a7 take actions that help empower ,indian tribes1 tribal organizations1 and ,native ,hawaiian organizations to showcase the heritage1 foods1 traditions1 history1 and continuing vitality of ,native ,american communities2 7#b7 support the efforts of ,indian tribes1 tribal organizations1 and ,native ,hawaiian organizations-- 7,a7 to identify and enhance or maintain traditions and cultural features that are important to sustain the distinctiveness of the local ,native ,american community2 and 7,b7 to provide visitor experiences that are authentic and respectful2 7#c7 provide assistance to interpret the connections between the indigenous peoples of the ,united ,states and the national identity of the ,united ,states2 7#d7 enhance efforts to promote understanding and respect for diverse cultures and subcultures in the ,united ,states and the relevance of those cultures to the national brand of the ,united ,states2 and 7#e7 enter into appropriate memoranda of understanding and establish public-private partnerships to ensure that arriving domestic travelers at airports and arriving international visitors at ports of entry are welcomed in a manner that both showcases and respects the diversity of ,native ,american communities4 7b7 ,grants ,to the extent practicable1 grant programs relating to travel1 recreation1 or tourism administered by the ,commissioner of the ,administration for ,native ,americans1 ,chairman of the ,national ,endowment for the ,arts1 ,chairman of the ,national ,endowment for the ,humanities1 or the head of an agency with assets or resources relating to travel1 recreation1 or tourism promotion or branding enhancement for which ,indian tribes1 tribal organizations1 or ,native ,hawaiian organizations are eligible may be used-- 7#a7 to support the efforts of ,indian tribes1 tribal organizations1 and ,native ,hawaiian organizations to tell the story of ,native ,americans as the ,first ,peoples of the ,united ,states2 7#b7 to use the arts and humanities to help revitalize ,native communities1 promote economic development1 increase livability1 and present the uniqueness of the ,united ,states to visitors in a way that celebrates the diversity of the ,united ,states2 and 7#c7 to carry out this section4 7c7 ,smithsonian ,the ,advisory ,council and the ,board of ,regents of the ,smithsonian ,institution shall work with ,indian tribes1 tribal organizations1 ,native ,hawaiian organizations1 and nonprofit organizations to establish long-term partnerships with non-,smithsonian museums and educational and cultural organizations-- 7#a7 to share collections1 exhibitions1 interpretive materials1 and educational strategies2 and 7#b7 to conduct joint research and collaborative projects that would support tourism efforts for ,indian tribes1 tribal organizations1 and ,native ,hawaiian organizations and carry out the intent of this section4 #f4 ,effect ,nothing in this ,act alters1 or demonstrates congressional support for the alteration of1 the legal relationship between the ,united ,states and any ,american ,indian1 ,alaska ,native1 or ,native ,hawaiian individual1 group1 organization1 or entity4 ,passed the ,senate ,april #be1 #bjaf4,secretary