[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5528 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5528

 To authorize the construction of a Wakpa Sica Reconciliation Place in 
           Fort Pierre, South Dakota, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 24, 2000

  Mr. Thune introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                         Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To authorize the construction of a Wakpa Sica Reconciliation Place in 
           Fort Pierre, South Dakota, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) there is a continuing need for reconciliation between 
        Indians and non-Indians;
            (2) the need may be met partially through the promotion of 
        the understanding of the history and culture of Sioux Indian 
        tribes;
            (3) the establishment of a Sioux Nation Tribal Supreme 
        Court will promote economic development on reservations of the 
        Sioux Nation and provide investors that contribute to that 
        development a greater degree of certainty and confidence by--
                    (A) reconciling conflicting tribal laws; and
                    (B) strengthening tribal court systems;
            (4) the reservations of the Sioux Nation--
                    (A) contain the poorest counties in the United 
                States; and
                    (B) lack adequate tools to promote economic 
                development and the creation of jobs;
            (5) the establishment of a Native American Economic 
        Development Council will assist in promoting economic growth 
        and reducing poverty on reservations of the Sioux Nation by--
                    (A) coordinating economic development efforts;
                    (B) centralizing expertise concerning Federal 
                assistance; and
                    (C) facilitating the raising of funds from private 
                donations to meet matching requirements under certain 
                Federal assistance programs;
            (6) there is a need to enhance and strengthen the capacity 
        of Indian tribal governments and tribal justice systems to 
        address conflicts which impair relationships in Indian 
        communities and between Indian and non-Indian communities and 
        individuals; and
            (7) the establishment of the National Native American 
        Mediation Training Center, with the technical assistance of 
        tribal and Federal agencies, including the Community Relations 
        Service of the Department of Justice, would enhance and 
        strengthen the mediation skills that are useful in reducing 
        tensions and resolving conflicts in Indian communities and 
        between Indian and non-Indian communities and individuals.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the 
        meaning given that term in section 4(e) of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b(e)).
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
            (3) Sioux nation.--The term ``Sioux Nation'' means the 
        Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, the 
        Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, the 
        Oglala Sioux Tribe, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, the Santee Sioux 
        Tribe, the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe, the Spirit Lake Sioux 
        Tribe, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and the Yankton Sioux 
        Tribe.

                     TITLE I--RECONCILIATION CENTER

SEC. 101. RECONCILIATION CENTER.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, 
in cooperation with the Secretary, shall establish, in accordance with 
this section, a reconciliation center, to be known as ``Wakpa Sica 
Reconciliation Place''.
    (b) Location.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
Secretary shall take into trust for the benefit of the Sioux Nation the 
parcel of land in Stanley County, South Dakota, that is described as 
the ``Reconciliation Place Addition'' that is owned on the date of 
enactment of this Act by the Wakpa Sica Historical Society, Inc., for 
the sole purpose of establishing and operating Wakpa Sica 
Reconciliation Place as described in subsection (c).
    (c) Purposes.--The purposes of Wakpa Sica Reconciliation Place 
shall be as follows:
            (1) To enhance the knowledge and understanding of the 
        history of Native Americans by--
                    (A) displaying and interpreting the history, art, 
                and culture of Indian tribes for Indians and non-
                Indians; and
                    (B) providing an accessible repository for--
                            (i) the history of Indian tribes; and
                            (ii) the family history of members of 
                        Indian tribes.
            (2) To provide for the interpretation of the encounters 
        between Lewis and Clark and the Sioux Nation.
            (3) To house the Sioux Nation Tribal Supreme Court.
            (4) To house the Native American Economic Development 
        Council.
            (5) To house the National Native American Mediation 
        Training Center to train tribal personnel in conflict 
        resolution and alternative dispute resolution.
    (d) Grant.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban 
        Development shall offer to award a grant to the Wakpa Sica 
        Historical Society of Fort Pierre, South Dakota, for the 
        construction of Wakpa Sica Reconciliation Place.
            (2) Grant agreement.--
                    (A) In general.--As a condition to receiving the 
                grant under this subsection, the appropriate official 
                of the Wakpa Sica Historical Society shall enter into a 
                grant agreement with the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
                Development.
                    (B) Consultation.--Before entering into a grant 
                agreement under this paragraph, the Secretary of 
                Housing and Urban Development shall consult with the 
                Secretary concerning the contents of the agreement.
                    (C) Duties of the wakpa sica historical society.--
                The grant agreement under this paragraph shall specify 
                the duties of the Wakpa Sica Historical Society under 
                this section and arrangements for the maintenance of 
                Wakpa Sica Reconciliation Place.
            (3) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
        to be appropriated to the Department of Housing and Urban 
        Development $18,258,441, to be used for the grant under this 
        section.

SEC. 102. NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN MEDIATION TRAINING CENTER.

    (a) In General.--To ensure the development and operation of the 
Sioux Nation Tribal Supreme Court and the National Native American 
Mediation Training Center, the Attorney General of the United States 
shall use available funds to provide technical and financial assistance 
to the Sioux Nation.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, 
there are authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Justice 
such sums as are necessary.

SEC. 103. LEGAL JURISDICTION NOT AFFECTED.

    Nothing in this Act shall be construed to expand, diminish, or 
otherwise amend the civil or criminal legal jurisdiction of the Federal 
Government or any tribal or State government.

                          TITLE II--GAO STUDY

SEC. 201. GAO STUDY.

    (a) In General.--The Comptroller General shall conduct a study and 
make findings and recommendations with respect to--
            (1) Federal programs designed to assist Indian tribes and 
        tribal members with economic development, job creation, 
        entrepreneurship, and business development;
            (2) the extent of use of the programs;
            (3) how effectively such programs accomplish their mission; 
        and
            (4) ways in which the Federal Government could best provide 
        economic development, job creation, entrepreneurship, and 
        business development for Indian tribes and tribal members.
    (b) Report.--The Comptroller General shall submit a report to 
Congress on the study, findings, and recommendations required by 
subsection (a) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act.
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