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Congress·Passed Senate·3 months ago

Congress authorizes up to $35M for Native tourism grants to tribes and Native Hawaiian groups

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
✓ Review
✓ Senate
House
President

Impacts

Mixed Impacts(3)
Small Business Owner
Neutral
Gig Worker
Neutral
Federal Employee
Neutral
Positive Impacts(1)
Tribal Member
Helps

Key Points

  • Creates a new federal grant program to support Native tourism and visitor-experience projects.
  • Allows the Bureau of Indian Affairs to give grants and make agreements with Indian tribes and tribal organizations.
  • Allows the Office of Native Hawaiian Relations to give grants and make agreements with Native Hawaiian organizations.
  • Lets other federal agencies also provide grants for these goals, including Commerce, Transportation, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, and Labor.
  • Authorizes up to $35 million total for fiscal years 2025 through 2029, if Congress funds it.
EconomySmall BusinessTransportationTrade

Milestones

7 milestones11 actions
Dec 17, 2025House

Held at the desk.

Dec 17, 2025House

Received in the House.

Dec 17, 2025Senate

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

Dec 16, 2025Senate

Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8752; text: CR S8752)

Dec 16, 2025

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

After the bill becomes law and agencies set up program rules

Federal agencies can start designing and announcing Native tourism grant opportunities

Tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations may begin seeing new notices for grants and agreements and can prepare applications and project plans

2029-09-30

Grant authority continues through the end of FY2029

Eligible organizations may have multiple years to apply, reapply, or expand projects if Congress keeps funding the program each year

Related News

2 articles
U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (press release page)·3 months ago

SCHATZ BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT, HELP GROW NATIVE TOURISM PASSES SENATE UNANIMOUSLY

Covers Senate passage of S.612 to update the NATIVE Act by clarifying grant-making authority and helping Native communities access federal resources for tourism projects.

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The Senate Democratic Caucus·3 months ago

Wrap Up for Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Daily Senate recap listing bills passed, including S.612 (Native American tourism/visitor experience grants authorization).

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

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.

Bill NumberS 612
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionHeld at the desk.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(1)
R: 1

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.