S 612: A bill to amend the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act to authorize grants to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations, and for other purposes.
S 612 in plain English: This bill amends existing law to authorize grants to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations to support recreational travel and tourism activities. It designates the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Office of Native Hawaiian Relations, and other federal agencies as grant-makers authorized to enter into agreements with these groups. The bill authorizes $35 million in appropriations for fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
Stated purpose
The bill aims to authorize federal grants to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations to support recreational travel and tourism activities, expanding the existing Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act.
Key points
- Authorizes $35 million for fiscal years 2025–2029 to fund tourism-related grants for tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations
- Allows the Bureau of Indian Affairs to make grants to and enter agreements with Indian tribes and tribal organizations
- Allows the Office of Native Hawaiian Relations to make grants to Native Hawaiian organizations
- Permits other federal agencies to also make tourism grants to tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations
Arguments supporters make
- Tourism grants can help tribal and Native Hawaiian communities build economic self-sufficiency by growing a local industry they control
- Investing in Native tourism infrastructure preserves and shares indigenous cultures, benefiting both communities and visitors
- Spreading grant authority across multiple federal agencies increases flexibility and the range of support available to these communities
Arguments opponents make
- Authorizing $35 million does not guarantee the money is actually appropriated, so the bill may raise expectations without delivering real funding
- Critics of targeted grant programs may argue these funds should be available through broader rural or small-business development programs open to all communities
- Some may question whether the federal government should expand grant programs in this area given current budget pressures and competing spending priorities
Tradeoffs
Directing dedicated grant funding to tribal and Native Hawaiian organizations may accelerate tourism development in those communities, but it sets aside resources specifically for these groups rather than making them available through open competition to other rural or economically distressed communities.
Current status in Congress: Passed Senate.
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