[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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