[117th Congress Public Law 337]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 136 STAT. 6153]]
Public Law 117-337
117th Congress
An Act
To amend the Native American Languages Act to ensure the survival and
continuing vitality of Native American languages, and for other
purposes. <<NOTE: Jan. 5, 2023 - [S. 1402]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Durbin Feeling
Native American Languages Act of 2022.>>
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 25 USC 2901 note.>> SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Durbin Feeling Native American
Languages Act of 2022''.
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) <<NOTE: President.>> Evaluation; Report.--Not later than 1
year after the date of enactment of this subsection, the President
shall--
``(1) <<NOTE: Requirements.>> 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. <<NOTE: 25 USC 2907.>> SURVEY ON NATIVE AMERICAN
LANGUAGES.
``(a) In General.-- <<NOTE: Deadline.>> Not later than 18 months
after the date of enactment of this section, and every 5 years
thereafter, the
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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.
``(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) <<NOTE: Contracts.>> 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
American 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;
[[Page 136 STAT. 6155]]
``(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. <<NOTE: Deadline. Public information.>> --
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 Committees on Education and Labor
and 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) <<NOTE: Deadline. Public information.>> 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
Committees on Education and Labor and 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.''.
Approved January 5, 2023.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 1402:
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SENATE REPORTS: No. 117-45 (Comm. on Indian Affairs).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 168 (2022):
Dec. 19, considered and passed Senate.
Dec. 21, 22, considered and passed House.
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