[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 199 (Wednesday, December 21, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H9956-H9958]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          DURBIN FEELING NATIVE AMERICAN LANGUAGES ACT OF 2021

  Mrs. PELTOLA. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill, (S. 1402) to amend the Native American Languages Act to ensure 
the survival and continuing vitality of Native American languages, and 
for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 1402

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Durbin Feeling Native 
     American Languages Act of 2021''.

     SEC. 2. ENSURING THE SURVIVAL AND CONTINUING VITALITY OF 
                   NATIVE AMERICAN LANGUAGES.

       (a) In General.--Section 106 of the Native American 
     Languages Act (25 U.S.C. 2905) is amended by adding at the 
     end the following:
       ``(c) Evaluation; Report.--Not later than 1 year after the 
     date of enactment of this subsection, the President shall--
       ``(1) require the heads of the various Federal departments, 
     agencies, and instrumentalities to carry out an evaluation 
     described in subsection (a)(1); and
       ``(2) submit to Congress a report that describes--
       ``(A) the results of the evaluations; and
       ``(B) the recommendations of the Secretary of the Interior, 
     the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Secretary 
     of Education, after consultation with Indian tribes, 
     traditional leaders, and representatives of Native American 
     language communities, for amendments to Federal laws that are 
     needed--
       ``(i) to bring the Federal laws into compliance with this 
     Act;
       ``(ii) to improve interagency coordination for purposes of 
     supporting revitalization, maintenance, and use of Native 
     American languages; and
       ``(iii) to reduce duplication, inefficiencies, and barriers 
     Native American language communities face in accessing 
     Federal programs to support efforts to revitalize, maintain, 
     or increase the use of Native American languages.''.
       (b) Survey on Native American Languages.--The Native 
     American Languages Act (25 U.S.C. 2901 et seq.) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 108. SURVEY ON NATIVE AMERICAN LANGUAGES.

       ``(a) In General.--Not later than 18 months after the date 
     of enactment of this section, and every 5 years thereafter, 
     the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through 
     the Commissioner of the Administration for Native Americans 
     (referred to in this section as the `Secretary'), shall 
     undertake a survey of the use of all Native American 
     languages in the United States.
       ``(b) Updates.--Prior to conducting each subsequent survey 
     after the initial survey under subsection (a), the Secretary 
     shall update the survey in accordance with this section.
       ``(c) Consultation Required.--The Secretary shall design 
     the initial survey under subsection (a) and each updated 
     survey under subsection (b)--
       ``(1) in consultation with Indian tribes; and
       ``(2) after considering feedback received from Native 
     American language speakers and experts.

[[Page H9957]]

       ``(d) Contents.--Each survey under subsection (a) shall 
     solicit--
       ``(1) information on which Native American languages are 
     currently spoken;
       ``(2) estimates of the number of speakers of each Native 
     American language;
       ``(3) any language usage statistics or information that the 
     Secretary, in consultation with Indian tribes and Native 
     American language speakers and experts, determines to be 
     relevant and appropriate;
       ``(4) information on the types of Native American language 
     maintenance and revitalization projects and practices that 
     are currently being carried out;
       ``(5) information on any unmet Native American language 
     resource needs of Indian tribes and Native American language 
     communities; and
       ``(6) any other information that the Secretary, in 
     consultation with Indian tribes and Native American language 
     speakers and experts, determines to be necessary.
       ``(e) Coordination.--The Secretary may coordinate, and 
     enter into cooperative agreements with, the Director of the 
     Bureau of the Census for the purposes of carrying out this 
     section.
       ``(f) Outreach and Engagement.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out outreach 
     and engagement activities to provide Indian tribes, Native 
     language communities, and the public information about--
       ``(A) opportunities to provide input on the development and 
     design of each survey under subsection (a), including 
     information on the consultations required under subsection 
     (c);
       ``(B) the goals and purpose of the surveys conducted under 
     subsection (a); and
       ``(C) the benefits and importance of participation in 
     surveys under subsection (a).
       ``(2) Grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements 
     authorized.--The Secretary may carry out the outreach and 
     engagement activities required under paragraph (1)--
       ``(A) directly;
       ``(B) in partnership with the Bureau of the Census; or
       ``(C) through grants to, or contracts or cooperative 
     agreements with--
       ``(i) Indian tribes;
       ``(ii) tribal organizations; and
       ``(iii) nonprofit organizations that work with Indian 
     tribes, Native American language programs, and Native 
     American language communities.
       ``(g) Limitation.--Nothing in this section requires an 
     Indian tribe, Native American language community, or Native 
     American language speaker--
       ``(1) to participate in a survey under subsection (a); or
       ``(2) to provide specific or culturally sensitive 
     information in completing such a survey.
       ``(h) Availability of Survey Materials and Findings.--
       ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this section, and prior to conducting each 
     survey under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to 
     the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
     Representatives, and make publicly available, a description 
     of--
       ``(A) the feedback received under subsection (c) on the 
     design of the survey;
       ``(B) the form and content of the survey;
       ``(C) the plan for deploying the survey to ensure a robust 
     response; and
       ``(D) how the Secretary will ensure any survey enumeration 
     efforts are culturally informed and appropriate.
       ``(2) Results.--Not later than 90 days after the date on 
     which analysis of each survey under subsection (a) is 
     completed, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
     Indian Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Natural 
     Resources of the House of Representatives, and make publicly 
     available, the results of the survey.
       ``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $1,500,000 for 
     each fiscal year--
       ``(1) preceding a fiscal year during which a survey under 
     subsection (a) is conducted; and
       ``(2) during which a survey under that subsection is 
     conducted.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Alaska (Mrs. Peltola) and the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. 
Foxx) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Alaska.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. PELTOLA. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on S. 1402, the Durbin Feeling Native 
American Languages Act of 2021.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Alaska?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. PELTOLA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 1402, the Durbin 
Feeling Native American Languages Act of 2021.
  Preserving Native American languages is essential to preserving the 
identity, traditions, and culture of the Native American community.
  Regrettably, for decades, the Federal Government created policies 
that sought to suppress the use of Native American languages.
  In response, President George H.W. Bush signed the Native American 
Language Act into law, which ensures the rights and freedoms of Native 
Americans to use, practice, and develop Native American languages.
  The bill before us today, the Durbin Feeling Native American 
Languages Act of 2021 helps ensure the Federal Government makes good on 
that promise. Specifically, the bill directs the President to review 
Federal agencies' compliance with the Native American Language Act 
requirements and make recommendations to improve interagency 
coordination.
  It would also authorize a Federal survey of Native American language 
use and language revitalization programs' unmet needs every 5 years. 
These surveys will serve as ``health checks'' to improve targeting of 
Federal resources for Native American languages.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in preserving Native 
American languages and pass S. 1402.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1402, the Durbin Feeling 
Native American Languages Act, named after Durbin Feeling, a linguist 
from the Cherokee Nation who passed away in 2020. This bill takes 
positive steps to preserve the legacy of Native languages and cultures.
  In short, this legislation directs the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services, HHS, to work with other Federal agencies, local, and Tribal 
partners to examine which laws are helping protect Tribal languages and 
which aren't.
  This legislation will bolster efforts to preserve, promote, and 
revitalize Tribal languages and culture. This legislation also creates 
a voluntary survey to assess the use of Native American languages. It 
is important to know if these efforts are effective.
  This bill also promotes good governance. The President will be 
required to report to Congress on whether Federal laws are hindering 
the preservation of Native American languages. This is an example of 
responsible legislating, which includes limiting redundancy, holding 
agencies accountable, and ensuring laws are working as intended.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 1402, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mrs. PELTOLA. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Madam Speaker, the Durbin Feeling Native American Languages Act is a 
commonsense bill that will help preserve the integrity of Native 
languages and culture.
  Directing the Secretary of HHS to work across the Federal Government 
and with Tribal leaders to examine which laws are helping Native 
languages thrive is pragmatic. Directing the President to keep us 
informed on those efforts is also wise.
  Language is integral to any culture; this sensible legislation will 
aid in the important work of keeping Native American languages alive 
and strong.
  Madam Speaker, I support this bill, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mrs. PELTOLA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, now more than ever, it is critical that we work 
together to preserve Native American languages.
  During the pandemic, Native Americans lost their lives at higher 
rates compared to other demographics in the United States. The loss of 
Tribal members inflicted an immeasurable loss to Native Americans' 
traditions and languages.
  Today, we have an opportunity to help correct the course. I urge my 
colleagues to pass the Durbin Feeling Native American Languages Act of 
2021 and support and preservation of Native American languages.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Alaska (Mrs. Peltola) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, S. 1402.

[[Page H9958]]

  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. ROSENDALE. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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