text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Native American Agricultural 
  Research, Development and Export Enhancement Act of 2000''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
  
      (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
              (1) Clause 3 of section 8 of article I of the United States 
          Constitution recognizes the special relationship between the 
          United States and Indian tribes.
              (2) Beginning in 1970, with the inauguration by the Nixon 
          Administration of the Indian self-determination era, each 
          successive President has reaffirmed the special government-to-
          government relationship between Indian tribes and the United 
          States.
              (3) In 1994, President Clinton issued an executive 
          memorandum to the heads of all Federal departments and agencies 
          that obligated all such departments and agencies, particularly 
          those that have an impact on economic development, to evaluate 
          the potential impacts of their actions on Indian tribes.
              (4) The United States has an obligation to guard and 
          preserve the agricultural and related renewable resources of 
          Indian tribes in order to foster strong tribal governments, 
          Indian self-determination, and economic self-sufficiency among 
          Indian tribes.
              (5) Despite the availability of abundant natural resources 
          on Indian lands and a rich cultural legacy that accords great 
          value to self-determination, self-reliance, and independence, 
          Native Americans suffer higher rates of unemployment, poverty, 
          poor health, substandard housing, and associated social ills 
          than those of any other group in the United States.
              (6) Reservation-based Indians tend to be the most rural of 
          any minority group. They tend to be geographically isolated, 
          resource limited, and the least likely of any farm group to 
          receive payment or loans from the United States.
              (7) Indian land represents close to 55,000,000 acres, or 
          about 2 percent of the United States land base, with nearly 
          47,000,000 of these acres consisting of range and cropland.
              (8) Indian agriculture constitutes the second largest 
          revenue generator and employer in Indian country and is not 
          limited to farming and ranching, but often includes such 
          products as forestry, bison, wild rice and fruits, cotton, 
          tobacco and other Native-made or grown products.
              (9) Because of the lack of Federal intra-agency and inter-
          agency coordination in agriculture programs and policies, the 
          development of Indian agriculture and related tribal business 
          and economic development potential has been hindered.
              (10) It is estimated that about 20 percent of reservation 
          grazing land and about 70 percent of cropland is leased to non-
          Indian producers.
              (11) American Indians today use their lands and natural 
          resources for agriculture and agribusiness to provide food and 
          other staples for consumption, improving their economic self-
          sufficiency, agriculture income and reservation employment.
              (12) Although there are many programs within Department of 
          Agriculture for which tribal and individual Indian producers 
          are eligible, Indian producers have not fully benefited from 
          these programs because of insufficient coordination within the 
          Department of Agriculture.
              (13) The United States has an obligation to assist Indian 
          tribes with the creation of appropriate economic and political 
          conditions with respect to Indian lands to--
                      (A) encourage investment from outside sources that 
                  do not originate with the tribes; and
                      (B) facilitate economic ventures with outside 
                  entities that are not tribal entities.
              (14) The economic success and material well-being of Native 
          American communities depends on the combined efforts of the 
  Federal Government, tribal governments, the private sector, and 
  individuals.
      (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to--
              (1) promote the coordination of existing agricultural and 
          related programs within the Department of Agriculture to 
          provide the maximum benefit to Indian tribes and their members;
              (2) encourage intertribal, regional, and international 
          trade and business development in order to assist in increasing 
          productivity and the standard of living of members of Indian 
          tribes and improving the economic self-sufficiency of the 
          Indian tribes;
              (3) through improving the administration of Federal 
          program, improve the access of Indian tribes to capital, 
          specialty markets, export promotions, and marketing assistance 
          that non-Indian agriculture producers currently have access to;
              (4) improve the development and coordination of Indian 
          agriculture and related value-added industries to promote self-
          sustaining Native economies and communities; and
              (5) promote economic self-sufficiency and political self-
          determination for Indian tribes and members of Indian tribes.
  
  SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
  
      In this Act:
              (1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means an 
          Indian tribe, a tribal organization, a tribal enterprise, a 
          tribal marketing cooperative, or any other Indian-owned 
          business.
              (2) Indian.--The term ``Indian'' has the meaning given that 
          term in section 4(d) of the Indian Self-Determination and 
          Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b(d)).
              (3) Indian goods and services.--The term ``Indian goods and 
          services'' means--
                      (A) goods produced or originated by an eligible 
                  entity; or
                      (B) services provided by eligible entities.
              (4) Indian-owned business.--The term ``Indian-owned 
          business'' means an entity organized for the conduct of trade 
          or commerce with respect to which at least 50 percent of the 
          property interest of the entity is owned by Indians or Indian 
          tribes (or a combination thereof).
              (5) 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)).
              (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
          of Agriculture.
              (7) Tribal enterprise.--The term ``tribal enterprise'' 
          means a commercial activity or business managed or controlled 
          by an Indian tribe.
              (8) Tribal organization.--The term ``tribal organization'' 
          has the meaning given that term in section 4(l) of the Indian 
          Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
          450b(l)).
  
  SEC. 4. NATIVE AMERICAN RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND EXPORT OFFICE
  
      (a) In General.--
              (1) Establishment.--There is established within the 
          Department of Agriculture a Native American Agricultural 
          Research, Development and Export Office (referred to this Act 
          as the ``Office'').
              (2) Director.--The Office shall be headed by a Director of 
          the Native American Agricultural Research, Development and 
          Export Office (referred to in this Act as ``Director'') to be 
          appointed by the Secretary. The Director shall be compensated 
          at a rate not to exceed that for level V of the Executive 
          Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.
      (b) Duties of the Secretary.--
              (1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the 
          Director, shall ensure the coordination of all programs that 
          provide assistance to Native American communities within the 
          following 7 mission areas of the Department of Agriculture:
                      (A) Farm and foreign agricultural services.
                      (B) Food, nutrition, and consumer services.
                      (C) Food safety.
                      (D) Marketing and regulatory programs.
                      (E) Natural resources and environment.
                      (F) Research, education and economics.
                      (G) Rural development.
              (2) Activities.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
          Secretary, acting through the Director, shall ensure the 
          coordination of, or, as appropriate, carry out--
                      (A) activities to promote Indian agricultural 
                  programs, including the development of domestic and 
                  international trade programs;
                      (B) activities to facilitate water and waste 
                  programs, housing, utility and other infrastructure 
                  development with respect to Native American 
                  communities;
                      (C) activities to provide assistance to Indian 
                  tribal college programs;
                      (D) activities to implement rural economic 
                  development programs for Native American communities; 
                  and
                      (E) activities to promote food and nutrition 
                  services for Native American communities.
              (3) Interagency coordination.--In carrying out Department 
          of Agriculture programs, the Secretary, acting through the 
          Director, shall coordinate with other Federal agencies, 
          including the Department of Energy, the Department of Housing 
          and Urban Development, the Department of the Interior, the 
          Department of Justice, the Department of Commerce, or any other 
          Federal agency responsible for administering related Indian 
          programs.
              (4) Assistance.--In conjunction with the activities 
          described in paragraph (2), the Secretary, acting through the 
          Director, shall provide--
                      (A) financial assistance, technical assistance, and 
                  administrative services to eligible entities to assist 
                  those entities in--
                              (i) identifying and taking advantage of 
                          business development opportunities; and
                              (ii) complying with appropriate laws and 
                          regulatory practices; and
                      (B) such other assistance as the Secretary, in 
                  consultation with the Director, determines to be 
                  necessary for the development of business opportunities 
                  for eligible entities to enhance the economies of 
                  Indian tribes.
              (5) Priorities.--In carrying out the duties and activities 
          described in paragraphs (3) and (4), the Secretary, acting 
          through the Director, shall give priority to activities that--
                      (A) provide the greatest degree of economic 
                  benefits to Indians; and
                      (B) foster long-term stable economies of Indian 
                  tribes.
  
  SEC. 5. NATIVE AMERICAN TRADE AND EXPORT PROMOTION.
  
      (a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall 
  establish and implement a Native American export and trade promotion 
  program (referred to in this section as the ``program'').
      (b) Coordination of Federal Programs and Services.--In carrying out 
  the program, the Secretary, acting through the Director and in 
  cooperation with the heads of appropriate Federal agencies, shall 
  ensure the coordination of Federal programs and services that are 
  designed to--
              (1) develop the economies of Indian tribes; and
              (2) stimulate the demand for Indian goods and services that 
          are available from eligible entities.
      (c) Activities.--In carrying out subsection (b), the Secretary, 
  acting through the Director, shall ensure the coordination of, or, as 
  appropriate, carry out--
              (1) Federal programs that are designed to provide technical 
          or financial assistance to eligible entities;
              (2) activities to develop promotional materials for 
          eligible entities;
              (3) activities for the financing of appropriate trade 
          missions;
              (4) activities for the marketing of related Indian goods 
          and services;
              (5) activities for the participation of appropriate Federal 
          agencies or eligible entities in international trade fairs; and
              (6) any other activity related to the development of 
          markets for Indian goods and services.
      (d) Technical Assistance.--In conjunction with the activities 
  described in subsection (c), the Secretary, acting through the 
  Director, shall provide technical assistance and administrative 
  services to eligible entities to assist those entities in--
              (1) identifying appropriate markets for Indian goods and 
          services;
              (2) entering the markets referred to in paragraph (1);
              (3) complying with foreign or domestic laws and practices 
          with respect to financial institutions concerning the export 
          and import of Indian goods and services; and
              (4) entering into financial arrangements to provide for the 
          export and trade of Indian agricultural and related products.
      (e) Priorities.--In carrying out the duties and activities 
  described in subsections (b) and (c), the Secretary, acting through the 
  Director, shall give priority to activities that--
              (1) provide the greatest degree of economic benefits to 
          Indians; and
              (2) foster long-term stable international markets for 
          Indian goods and services.
target: Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Director of such Office, to ensure the coordination of all programs that provide assistance to Native American communities within seven specified mission areas of the Department of Agriculture and to ensure the coordination of, or carry out, activities to: (1) promote Indian agricultural programs; (2) facilitate water and waste programs, housing, utility and other infrastructure development with respect to Native American communities; (3) provide assistance to Indian tribal college programs; (4) implement rural economic development programs for Native American communities; and (5) promote food and nutrition services for such communities. Requires the Director  to provide: (1) financial and technical assistance and administrative services to assist eligible entities in identifying and taking advantage of business development opportunities and complying with laws and regulatory practices; and (2) such other assistance necessary for the development of business opportunities to enhance Indian tribes' economies.
  Requires the Director to establish and implement a Native American export and trade promotion program and, in carrying out such program, to ensure the coordination of: (1) Federal programs and services designed to develop Indian tribes' economies and stimulate the demand for Indian goods and services that are available from eligible entities; and (2) Federal programs that are designed to provide technical or financial assistance to eligible entities and any activities related to the development of markets for Indian goods and services. Requires the Director to provide technical assistance and administrative services to assist eligible entities in: (1) identifying and entering markets for Indian goods and services; (2) complying with foreign or domestic laws and practices with respect to financial institutions concerning the export and import of such goods and services; and (3) entering into financial arrangements to provide for the export and trade of Indian agricultural and related products.
feat_title: Native American Agricultural Research, Development and Export Enhancement Act of 2000