1.This Act may be cited as the
Native American Economic Advisory
Council Act of 2011
.
2.Congress finds—
(1)the United States
has a special political and legal relationship and responsibility to promote
the welfare of the Native American people of the United States;
(2)evaluations of
indicators and criteria of social well-being, education, health, unemployment,
housing, income, rates of poverty, justice systems, and nutrition by agencies
of government and others have consistently found that Native American
communities rank below other groups of United States citizens and many are at
or near the bottom in those evaluations;
(3)Native Americans,
like other people in the United States, have been hit hard by the deepest
recession of the United States economy in over 50 years, causing a significant
decline in employment and economic activity across the United States;
(4)Native American
communities have been described as emerging economies
and
consequently have been stalled in the efforts of the communities to build
sustainable growing economies for the people of the communities and are being
adversely affected faster than the rest of the United States;
(5)economic stimulus
programs to help Native American communities generate jobs and stronger
economic performance will require United States financial and tax incentives to
increase both local and expanded investment that is tailored to the unique
needs and circumstances of Native American communities;
(6)the impacts of
the ongoing recession and the near collapse of the financial and banking
systems require a review of assumptions about the future, the need for new
growth strategies, and a focus on laying the groundwork for economic success in
the 21st century;
(7)there is a
continuing need for direct economic stimulus, including needs for improving
rural infrastructure and alternative energy in rural and Native American
communities of the United States and providing Native Americans leaders with
the tools to create jobs and improve economic conditions;
(8)in light of the
role of Native American communities as emerging markets within the United
States, there are opportunities and needs that should be addressed, including
consideration of United States support for the pooling of resources to create
an Indigenous Sovereign Wealth Fund that is similar to those Funds created
around the world to diversify revenue streams, attract more resources, invest
more wisely, and create jobs;
(9)Native Americans
should be participants when major economic decisions are made that affect the
property, lives, and future of Native Americans; and
(10)Native Americans
should fully participate in rebuilding Native American communities and have
necessary tools and resources.
3.The purpose of this Act is to authorize and
establish a Native American Economic Advisory Council to consult, coordinate
with, and make recommendations to the Executive Office of the President,
Cabinet officers, and Federal agencies—
(1)to improve the
focus, effectiveness, and delivery of Federal economic aid and development
programs to Native Americans and, as a result, improve substandard economic
conditions in Native American communities;
(2)to build and
expand on the capacity of leaders in Native American organizations and
communities to take positive and innovative steps—
(A)to create
jobs;
(B)to establish
stable and profitable business enterprises;
(C)to enhance
economic conditions; and
(D)to use Native
American-owned resources for the benefit of members; and
(3)to achieve the
long-term goal of improving the quality of Native American life and living
conditions and access to basic public services to the levels enjoyed by the
average citizen and community of the United States by the year 2025.
4.
Establishment of Native American Economic Advisory Council
(a)There is established
a Native American Economic Advisory Council (referred to in this Act as the
Council
) to advise and assist the Executive Office of the
President and Federal agencies to ensure that Native Americans (including
Native American members, communities and organizations) have—
(1)the means and capacity to generate and
benefit from economic stimulus and growth; and
(2)fair access to, and reasonable
opportunities to participate in, Federal economic development and job growth
programs.
(b)
(1)The Council shall consist of 5 members appointed by the
President.
(2)Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the President shall appoint the initial members of the
Council.
(3)Of
the members of the Council—
(A)1 member shall be
an Alaska Native;
(B)1 member shall be
a Hawaiian Native; and
(C)3 members shall
represent American Native groups and organizations from other States.
(4)The
President shall designate 1 of the members of the Council to serve as
Chairperson.
(c)Each
member of the Council shall be a Native American who, as a result of work
experience, training, and attainment, is well qualified—
(1)to identify,
analyze, and understand the attributes and background of successful business
enterprises and economic programs in Native American communities and
cultures;
(2)to appraise the
economic development programs and activities of Federal agencies in the context
of the goals and purposes of this Act; and
(3)to recommend
programs, policies, and needed program modifications to improve access to and
effectiveness in the delivery of economic development programs in Native
American communities.
(d)A
vacancy on the Council—
(1)shall not affect
the authority of the Commission; and
(2)shall be filled
in the same manner as the initial appointments to the Council.
(e)Each
Member of the Council shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in
lieu of subsistence, at the rate authorized for employees of agencies under
subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from the
homes or regular places of business of the employees in the performance of
services for the Council.
(f)
(1)The Council may, without regard to the civil service laws
(including regulations), appoint and terminate an executive director and such
other staff as are necessary to enable the Council to perform the duties
required under this Act.
(2)
(A)Subject to subparagraph (B), the Council may fix the
compensation of the executive director and other personnel without regard to
the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5,
United States Code, relating to classification of positions and General
Schedule pay rates.
(B)The rate of pay for the executive director and other
personnel of the Council shall not exceed the rate payable for level V of the
Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.
(g)
(1)An employee of the Federal Government may be detailed to
the Council without reimbursement.
(2)The detail of an employee shall be without interruption or
loss of civil service status or privilege.
(h)The Council may procure temporary and intermittent
services in accordance with section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at
rates for individuals that do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual
rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule under
section 5316 of that title.
(i)The Secretary of Commerce shall provide necessary office
space and administrative services for the Council (including staff of the
Council).
5.
(a)The Council shall advise and make recommendations to
Federal agencies on—
(1)proposing
sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction policies in a manner that
promotes self-determination, self-sufficiency, and independence in urban and
remote Native American communities while preserving the traditional cultural
values of those communities;
(2)ensuring that
Native Americans (including Native American communities and organizations) have
equal access to Federal economic aid, training, and assistance programs;
(3)developing
economic growth strategies, finance, and tax policies that will enable Native
American organizations to stimulate the local economies of Native Americans and
create meaningful new jobs in Native American communities;
(4)increasing the
effectiveness of Federal programs to address the economic, employment, medical,
and social needs of Native American communities;
(5)administering
Federal economic development assistance programs with an understanding of the
unique needs of Native American communities with the objectives of—
(A)making Native
American leaders knowledgeable about best business practices and successful
economic and job growth strategies;
(B)promoting
investment and economic growth and reducing unemployment and poverty in Native
American communities;
(C)enhancing
governance, entrepreneurship, and self-determination in Native American
communities; and
(D)fostering
demonstrations of transformational changes in economic conditions in remote
Native American communities through the use of innovative technology, targeted
investments, and the use of Native American-owned natural and scenic
resources;
(6)improving the
effectiveness of economic development assistance programs through the
integration and coordination of assistance to Native American
communities;
(7)recommending
educational and business training programs for Native Americans that increase
the capacity of Native Americans for economic well-being and to further the
purposes of this Act; and
(8)initiating
proposals, as needed, for fellowship and mentoring programs to meet the
economic development needs of Native American communities.
(b)The Council shall—
(1)prepare a
compilation of successful business enterprises and joint ventures conducted by
Native American organizations, including tribal enterprises and the commercial
ventures of Native Corporations (as defined in section 102 of the Alaska
National Interest Lands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 3102)) in the State of
Alaska; and
(2)periodically
sponsor and arrange conferences and training workshops on Native American
business activities, including providing mentors, resource people, and speakers
to address financing, management, marketing, resource development, and best
business practices in Native American business enterprises.
6.Assessment of
impacts of legislative proposals on Native American economic prospects and
opportunityIn preparing and
communicating the comments and recommendations of the President on proposed
legislation to committees and leadership of Congress, the Director of the
Office of Management and Budget and the head of a Federal agency shall include
an assessment of the impacts of the proposed legislation on the economic and
employment prospects and opportunities provided in the proposed legislation to
improve the quality of living conditions of Native American communities,
organizations, and members to the levels enjoyed by most people of the United
States.
7.The Council shall—
(1)prepare periodic reports on the activities
of the Council; and
(2)make the reports available to—
(A)Native American communities, organizations,
and members;
(B)the General Services Administration;
(C)the Office of Management and Budget;
(D)the Domestic Policy Council;
(E)the National Economic Council;
(F)the Council of Economic Advisers;
(G)the Secretary of the Treasury;
(H)the Secretary of Commerce;
(I)the Secretary of Labor;
(J)the Secretary of the Interior;
(K)the Secretary of Energy; and
(L)members of the public.
8.Authorization of
appropriationsThere are
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act such sums as are
necessary.