[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1697 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1697

  To ensure the coordination and integration of Indian tribes in the 
   National Homeland Security strategy and to establish an Office of 
 Tribal Government Homeland Security within the Department of Homeland 
                   Security, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 24, 2009

 Mr. Pallone (for himself, Mr. Grijalva, and Mr. Honda) introduced the 
    following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural 
Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a 
 period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To ensure the coordination and integration of Indian tribes in the 
   National Homeland Security strategy and to establish an Office of 
 Tribal Government Homeland Security within the Department of Homeland 
                   Security, 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. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Tribal Government 
Homeland Security Coordination and Integration Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings and purposes.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Sec. 4. Office of Tribal Government Homeland Security.
Sec. 5. Report to Congress.
Sec. 6. Authorization of appropriations.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and 
        the subsequent introduction of weapons grade anthrax into the 
        United States Postal System and Congressional office buildings 
        in Washington, DC, the President and the Congress have worked 
        closely to respond to the need to rebuild and strengthen the 
        Nation's public health, national security, and emergency 
        response systems.
            (2) Based on article I, section 8 of the United States 
        Constitution, treaties, Federal statutes, and court decisions, 
        the United States has a unique historical and legal 
        relationship with American Indian and Alaska Native people, 
        which serves as the basis for the Federal Government's trust 
        responsibility and obligations. There are currently 558 
        federally recognized Indian tribes in the United States, with 
        some 40 percent of Indian tribes located in the State of 
        Alaska. Indian tribes have principle responsibility for lands 
        and people within their jurisdiction.
            (3) Despite the government-to-government relationship 
        between Indian tribes and the United States, the United States 
        has failed to include and consult with Indian tribes with 
        regard to homeland security prevention, protection, and 
        response activities planning. Moreover, there are no specific 
        provisions for the Bureau of Indian Affairs or the Indian 
        Health Service to participate in homeland security programs and 
        funding.
            (4) Throughout many areas of the United States, facilities 
        operated, and services, activities and government functions 
        carried out, by Indian tribes, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and 
        the Indian Health Service are the only sources available to 
        provide emergency health services, disaster response, and law 
        enforcement to the tribal and non-tribal community, thus 
        serving the role as ``first responders'' in the event of a 
        terrorist attack.
            (5) To provide for the public health and safety on tribal 
        lands and in the surrounding communities, it is imperative to 
        establish tribal participation in homeland security 
        initiatives. Indian tribes must be included in the national 
        strategy for homeland security and receive an appropriate share 
        of related funding.
            (6) The treatment of Indian tribes as State governments, as 
        appropriate, for developing funding methodologies, planning, 
        consultation, coordination, and for eligibility for grant 
        monies will ensure Indian tribes are adequately prepared to 
        respond to homeland security threats.
            (7) Indian tribes shall be treated as State, as 
        appropriate, for purposes of planning, consultation, 
        coordination, eligibility for grant monies and other purposes 
        to improve the United States capacity to prepare, prevent and 
        respond to terrorist activities.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are as follows:
            (1) To establish within the Department of Homeland Security 
        an office known as the Office of Tribal Government Homeland 
        Security.
            (2) To authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to 
        appoint, in consultation with Indian tribes, a Director of 
        Tribal Government Homeland Security.
            (3) To provide for more effective management of, and 
        accountability for the proper discharge of, the Secretary's 
        trust responsibility to Indian tribes and individual American 
        Indians and Alaska Natives by establishing in the Department of 
        Homeland Security an Office of Tribal Government Homeland 
        Security.
            (4) To integrate and coordinate the efforts of the 
        Department of Homeland Security and Indian tribes to prepare 
        for, prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from 
        terrorist attacks.
            (5) To provide strategic integration of the Homeland 
        Security activities of Indian tribes that will complement the 
        operational consolidation of the various directorates within 
        the Department.
            (6) To supplement the capacity of the Indian Health Service 
        and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to respond to the homeland 
        security needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives, without 
        jeopardizing the nonsecurity missions of the Indian Health 
        Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
            (7) To serve as an information clearinghouse and to enhance 
        the integration and coordination of Indian tribes and in the 
        activities of the Department of Homeland Security.
            (8) To establish an organizational framework within the 
        Department of Homeland Security through which the Federal 
        Government, Indian tribes, and State and local governments can 
        work effectively and collaboratively on public health and 
        safety, terrorism detection, prevention, response, and 
        protection of critical infrastructure.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the Office of Tribal Government Homeland Security.
            (2) 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)).
            (3) Office.--The term ``Office'' means the Office of Tribal 
        Government Homeland Security established in section 4.
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Homeland Security.

SEC. 4. OFFICE OF TRIBAL GOVERNMENT HOMELAND SECURITY.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Establishment.--There is hereby established within the 
        Department of Homeland Security an office to be known as the 
        ``Office of Tribal Government Homeland Security''.
            (2) Director.--The Office shall be headed by a Director, 
        appointed by the Secretary in consultation with Indian tribes, 
        whose title shall be the Director of Tribal Government Homeland 
        Security. The Director shall be equal in pay and authority of 
        an Assistant Secretary.
    (b) Duties of Secretary; Director.--
            (1) Duties of the secretary.--The Secretary shall--
                    (A) ensure the coordination of Federal programs 
                that provide assistance (including financial and 
                technical assistance) to eligible Indian tribes and 
                provide those governments with treatment as State 
                governments, as appropriate, for planning, 
                consultation, and coordination and for eligibility for 
                Federal grant monies and funds to improve capacity and 
                help prepare, prevent, and respond to terrorist 
                activities, and for other related purposes in and near 
                tribal communities;
                    (B) ensure Indian tribes are included in the 
                coordination activities of the Homeland Security 
                Department's Border and Transportation functions in the 
                same manner as State and local law enforcement 
                entities;
                    (C) ensure Indian tribes with jurisdiction over 
                lands adjacent to the Canadian and Mexican borders are 
                adequately prepared to help protect United States 
                borders, territorial waters, waterways, and other 
                transportation systems;
                    (D) ensure the broad spectrum of infrastructure 
                throughout Indian Country, including nuclear and 
                electrical power plants, water and sanitation 
                facilities, agricultural, food processing, oil, timber, 
                and other natural resources is adequately protected 
                against terrorist threats;
                    (E) ensure that Indian tribes are properly equipped 
                to prepare for, prevent, and respond to terrorist 
                activities in the same manner as State and local 
                governments;
                    (F) provide Indian tribes the necessary equipment 
                for detection, protection, and decontamination in 
                emergencies involving weapons of mass destruction;
                    (G) provide Indian tribes with emergency 
                preparedness training and exercise programs and further 
                assistance for any emergency, including natural 
                disasters or disease;
                    (H) include Indian tribes in all facets of 
                research, development, resource assessment, and risk 
                analysis in the same manner as State and local 
                governments; and
                    (I) include Indian tribes, as appropriate, in the 
                coordination of the Homeland Security Department's 
                Immigration and Nationality functions in the same 
                manner as State and local law enforcement entities.
            (2) Duties of the director.--The Director shall--
                    (A) coordinate homeland security activities among 
                Indian tribes and related Federal agencies, including 
                integration and coordination of the efforts of the 
                Department of Homeland Security and Indian tribes to 
                prepare for, prevent, protect against, respond to, and 
                recover from terrorist attacks;
                    (B) provide strategic integration to complement the 
                operational consolidation of the various directorates 
                within the Department of Homeland Security, with 
                respect to Indian tribes;
                    (C) ensure that Indian tribes are included in the 
                gathering and analysis of terrorist threats and other 
                information in the same manner as Federal, State, and 
                local law enforcement entities;
                    (D) serve as the Secretary's key point of contact 
                for Indian tribes in need of assistance and information 
                homeland security grants for purposes of planning, 
                consultation, coordination, eligibility for grant 
                monies and other purposes to improve the United States 
                capacity to prepare, prevent and respond to terrorist 
                activities and to work with Indian tribes and executive 
                agencies in promoting homeland security;
                    (E) serve as the coordinating center intended to 
                facilitate communication between and integration with 
                Indian tribes and other Federal departments that have 
                homeland security responsibilities, including but not 
                limited to health surveillance, emergency preparation 
                and response, border security, critical infrastructure 
                protection, technology, and communication;
                    (F) establish a network through which the Federal 
                Government, Indian tribes, and State and local 
                governments work collaboratively on public health and 
                safety, terrorism detection, prevention, response, and 
                protection of critical infrastructure targets; and
                    (G) establish a mechanism for the distribution of 
                warnings and information to tribal communities.
    (c) Treatment of Indian Tribes as States.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall--
                    (A) treat Indian tribes as States, as appropriate, 
                for the purpose of homeland security consultation, 
                planning, coordination, bioterrorism preparedness, 
                prevention, and response, emergency preparedness and 
                response, border and transportation security, and for 
                other purposes related to protecting the homeland;
                    (B) include Indian tribes in funding methodologies 
                for purposes of allocating any financial resources; and
                    (C) support and facilitate the capacity necessary 
                for the Indian Health Service and Bureau of Indian 
                Affairs to respond to the homeland security needs of 
                American Indians and Alaska Natives, without 
                jeopardizing their non-security missions.
            (2) Discretionary authority.--The Secretary may delegate to 
        such Indian tribes primary responsibility for homeland security 
        activities within its respective jurisdiction.
    (d) Information Sharing.--The Secretary shall provide assistance to 
enhance information technology capabilities of Indian tribes and 
ensure--
            (1) the active participation of Indian tribes in the 
        coordination with Federal, State, and local governments and the 
        private sector as related to homeland security activities; and
            (2) provide Indian tribes access to the same type of 
        information being exchanged between Federal, State, and local 
        authorities for the purpose of providing government personnel, 
        agencies, and authorities, with appropriate intelligence 
        information, including warnings, regarding threats posed by 
        terrorism in a timely and secure manner.
    (e) Federal Grants.--
            (1) General eligibility.--Indian tribes shall be eligible 
        to apply for, receive, direct, and supervise any homeland 
        security-related Federal grant programs.
            (2) Authority to award grants.--The Secretary may award 
        grants to Indian tribes for the following purposes:
                    (A) Planning, consultation, and coordination to 
                improve infrastructure, to prevent terrorist 
                activities.
                    (B) Training and education of employees responsible 
                for public health, safety and emergency response 
                activities.
                    (C) Addressing communication gaps and 
                infrastructure needs related to homeland security.
                    (D) Increasing the capacity of Indian tribes to 
                help prepare, prevent, and respond to terrorist 
                activities and other public health and safety 
                emergencies.
                    (E) Development of a comprehensive plan to help 
                prepare, prevent, and respond to terrorist activities 
                and other public health and safety emergencies.
                    (F) Implementation of plans to help prepare, 
                prevent, and respond to terrorist activities and other 
                public health and safety emergencies.
                    (G) The preparation of reports assessing the 
                emergency preparedness of Indian tribes, including an 
                assessment of Indian tribes' coordination with the 
                Department.
                    (H) Such other purposes related to the purposes of 
                this Act the Secretary considers appropriate.
    (f) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall--
            (1) directly or by contract, provide Indian tribes with 
        technical assistance in developing, implementing and managing 
        emergency response plans.
            (2) Ensure that legal, financial, and other expertise of 
        the Department of Homeland Security is made fully available in 
        an advisory capacity to Indian tribes to assist in the 
        development, implementation, and management of emergency 
        response plans.
            (3) Provide Department of Homeland Security programs 
        designed to provide legal, accounting, financial, or technical 
        assistance to eligible Indian tribes.
            (4) Facilitate cooperation with the heads of appropriate 
        Federal agencies working on homeland security initiatives.
            (5) Any other activity that the Secretary, in consultation 
        with the Director, considers appropriate to carry out this 
        section.
    (g) Assessment.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit an assessment report 
detailing the baseline readiness of Indian tribes to the Committee on 
Indian Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of 
the House of Representatives. In addition to an assessment of baseline 
readiness, the report shall contain any legislative recommendations 
necessary to improve coordination and integration of Indian tribes in 
the National Homeland Security Strategy.
    (h) Reporting.--The Secretary shall determine the effectiveness of 
the Office through the preparation of reports assessing the emergency 
preparedness of Indian tribes, including an assessment of Indian 
tribes' coordination with the Department of Homeland Security.
    (i) Prohibition.--The Secretary may not provide assistance under 
this section 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.).

SEC. 5. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary, in 
consultation with the Director, shall prepare and submit to the 
Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Natural 
Resources of the House of Representatives a report on the operation of 
the Office.
    (b) Contents of Report.--Each report prepared under subsection (a) 
shall include--
            (1) for the period covered by the report, a summary of the 
        activities conducted by the Secretary, in carrying out 
        subsections (b) through (h) of section 4; and
            (2) any recommendations for legislation that the Secretary, 
        in consultation with the Director, determines to be necessary 
        to carry out such sections.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums are necessary to 
carry out this Act, to remain available until expended.
                                 <all>