[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5528 Introduced in House (IH)]
106th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5528
To authorize the construction of a Wakpa Sica Reconciliation Place in
Fort Pierre, South Dakota, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 24, 2000
Mr. Thune introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the construction of a Wakpa Sica Reconciliation Place in
Fort Pierre, South Dakota, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) there is a continuing need for reconciliation between
Indians and non-Indians;
(2) the need may be met partially through the promotion of
the understanding of the history and culture of Sioux Indian
tribes;
(3) the establishment of a Sioux Nation Tribal Supreme
Court will promote economic development on reservations of the
Sioux Nation and provide investors that contribute to that
development a greater degree of certainty and confidence by--
(A) reconciling conflicting tribal laws; and
(B) strengthening tribal court systems;
(4) the reservations of the Sioux Nation--
(A) contain the poorest counties in the United
States; and
(B) lack adequate tools to promote economic
development and the creation of jobs;
(5) the establishment of a Native American Economic
Development Council will assist in promoting economic growth
and reducing poverty on reservations of the Sioux Nation by--
(A) coordinating economic development efforts;
(B) centralizing expertise concerning Federal
assistance; and
(C) facilitating the raising of funds from private
donations to meet matching requirements under certain
Federal assistance programs;
(6) there is a need to enhance and strengthen the capacity
of Indian tribal governments and tribal justice systems to
address conflicts which impair relationships in Indian
communities and between Indian and non-Indian communities and
individuals; and
(7) the establishment of the National Native American
Mediation Training Center, with the technical assistance of
tribal and Federal agencies, including the Community Relations
Service of the Department of Justice, would enhance and
strengthen the mediation skills that are useful in reducing
tensions and resolving conflicts in Indian communities and
between Indian and non-Indian communities and individuals.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the
meaning given that term in section 4(e) of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b(e)).
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(3) Sioux nation.--The term ``Sioux Nation'' means the
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, the
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, the
Oglala Sioux Tribe, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, the Santee Sioux
Tribe, the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe, the Spirit Lake Sioux
Tribe, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and the Yankton Sioux
Tribe.
TITLE I--RECONCILIATION CENTER
SEC. 101. RECONCILIATION CENTER.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development,
in cooperation with the Secretary, shall establish, in accordance with
this section, a reconciliation center, to be known as ``Wakpa Sica
Reconciliation Place''.
(b) Location.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
Secretary shall take into trust for the benefit of the Sioux Nation the
parcel of land in Stanley County, South Dakota, that is described as
the ``Reconciliation Place Addition'' that is owned on the date of
enactment of this Act by the Wakpa Sica Historical Society, Inc., for
the sole purpose of establishing and operating Wakpa Sica
Reconciliation Place as described in subsection (c).
(c) Purposes.--The purposes of Wakpa Sica Reconciliation Place
shall be as follows:
(1) To enhance the knowledge and understanding of the
history of Native Americans by--
(A) displaying and interpreting the history, art,
and culture of Indian tribes for Indians and non-
Indians; and
(B) providing an accessible repository for--
(i) the history of Indian tribes; and
(ii) the family history of members of
Indian tribes.
(2) To provide for the interpretation of the encounters
between Lewis and Clark and the Sioux Nation.
(3) To house the Sioux Nation Tribal Supreme Court.
(4) To house the Native American Economic Development
Council.
(5) To house the National Native American Mediation
Training Center to train tribal personnel in conflict
resolution and alternative dispute resolution.
(d) Grant.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development shall offer to award a grant to the Wakpa Sica
Historical Society of Fort Pierre, South Dakota, for the
construction of Wakpa Sica Reconciliation Place.
(2) Grant agreement.--
(A) In general.--As a condition to receiving the
grant under this subsection, the appropriate official
of the Wakpa Sica Historical Society shall enter into a
grant agreement with the Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development.
(B) Consultation.--Before entering into a grant
agreement under this paragraph, the Secretary of
Housing and Urban Development shall consult with the
Secretary concerning the contents of the agreement.
(C) Duties of the wakpa sica historical society.--
The grant agreement under this paragraph shall specify
the duties of the Wakpa Sica Historical Society under
this section and arrangements for the maintenance of
Wakpa Sica Reconciliation Place.
(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to the Department of Housing and Urban
Development $18,258,441, to be used for the grant under this
section.
SEC. 102. NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN MEDIATION TRAINING CENTER.
(a) In General.--To ensure the development and operation of the
Sioux Nation Tribal Supreme Court and the National Native American
Mediation Training Center, the Attorney General of the United States
shall use available funds to provide technical and financial assistance
to the Sioux Nation.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section,
there are authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Justice
such sums as are necessary.
SEC. 103. LEGAL JURISDICTION NOT AFFECTED.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to expand, diminish, or
otherwise amend the civil or criminal legal jurisdiction of the Federal
Government or any tribal or State government.
TITLE II--GAO STUDY
SEC. 201. GAO STUDY.
(a) In General.--The Comptroller General shall conduct a study and
make findings and recommendations with respect to--
(1) Federal programs designed to assist Indian tribes and
tribal members with economic development, job creation,
entrepreneurship, and business development;
(2) the extent of use of the programs;
(3) how effectively such programs accomplish their mission;
and
(4) ways in which the Federal Government could best provide
economic development, job creation, entrepreneurship, and
business development for Indian tribes and tribal members.
(b) Report.--The Comptroller General shall submit a report to
Congress on the study, findings, and recommendations required by
subsection (a) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act.
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