[Senate Report 111-84]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 170
111th Congress Report
SENATE
1st Session 111-84
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AUTHORIZING THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR TO PROVIDE AN ANNUAL GRANT TO
FACILITATE AN IRON WORKING TRAINING PROGRAM FOR NATIVE AMERICANS
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September 30, 2009.--Ordered to be printed
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Mr. Dorgan, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 1129]
The Committee on Indian Affairs, to which was referred the
bill (H.R. 1129) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
provide an annual grant to facilitate an iron working training
program for Native Americans, having considered the same,
reports favorably thereon with amendments and recommends that
the bill (as amended) do pass.
PURPOSE
The purpose of H.R. 1129 is to authorize the Secretary of
the Interior, to the extent that funds are available for such
purpose, to provide annual grants to facilitate a training
program for Native American iron workers.
BACKGROUND
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) established an iron
workers training program for Native Americans in 1972 as part
of its general obligations to improve the economic conditions
of Indian country. Congress has since annually approved
appropriations for the program; however, the program has never
been specifically authorized in law.
H.R. 1129 would specifically authorize an iron worker
training program for Native Americans. Under the bill, and
subject to available funds, the Secretary would be directed to
provide grants for classroom and on-the-job training in iron
working skills to adult members of federally recognized Indian
tribes. The grantee would also be required to facilitate
participant job placement. To be eligible to receive a grant
under the Act, an entity must show proven experience in
providing successful iron working training programs to Native
Americans, and have the facilities necessary to carry out such
a program.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Office of Indian Energy
and Economic Development (OIEED) has administered the grant
over the past several fiscal years. The program has the support
of the Council for Tribal Employment Rights (CTER) and a number
of individual tribes.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
On February 23, 2009, Congressman Stephen Lynch introduced
H.R. 1129, and the bill was referred to the House Committee on
Natural Resources. On July 7, 2009, the House considered H.R.
1129 under suspension of the rules. It was agreed to by a vote
of 329-75. On July 8, 2009, H.R. 1129 was received in the
Senate and referred to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.
SUMMARY OF AMENDMENT
During an open business meeting on August 6, 2009, the
Committee considered and approved an amendment to H.R. 1129,
offered by Vice Chairman Barrasso. The amendment would make
federally recognized Indian tribes and tribal colleges eligible
to receive iron worker training grants under the bill. The
amendment was accepted by voice vote.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee approved of the bill by voice vote, as
amended, at the open business meeting on August 6, 2009, and
ordered the bill reported to the full Senate with the
recommendation that the bill, as amended, do pass.
COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS
August 24, 2009.
Hon. Byron L. Dorgan,
Chairman, Committee on Indian Affairs,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1129, to authorize
the Secretary of the Interior to provide an annual grant to
facilitate an iron-working training program for Native
Americans.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Leigh Angres.
Sincerely,
Douglas W. Elmendorf.
Enclosure.
H.R. 1129--An act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide
an annual grant to facilitate an iron-working training program
for Native Americans
H.R. 1129 would specifically authorize the Secretary of the
Interior, acting through the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), to
provide annual grants for iron-working training programs for
Native Americans. Eligible grantees would include federally
recognized tribes, tribal colleges and universities, and other
entities that have proven experience in such programs. Based on
information provided by BIA, CBO estimates that implementing
H.R. 1129 would cost about $2 million over the 2010-2014
period, subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
Enacting H.R. 1129 would not affect direct spending or
revenues.
BIA has administered an iron-working training program for
Native Americans since 1972. Over the past few years, the BIA
has funded one grant a year at an average level of about
$400,000. The act would codify and expand the current program
to provide multiple grants to eligible entities. However, given
the current demand for such training programs, CBO estimates
that one grant a year would continue to be awarded at the same
funding level.
H.R. 1129 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and
would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Leigh Angres.
The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant
Director for Budget Analysis.
REGULATORY AND PAPERWORK IMPACT STATEMENT
Paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the
Senate requires that each report accompanying a bill to
evaluate the regulatory and paperwork impact that would be
incurred in carrying out the bill. The Committee has concluded
that the regulatory and paperwork impacts of H.R. 1129, if any,
would be de minimis.
EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS
The Committee has received no communications from the
Executive Branch regarding H.R. 1129.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
In compliance with subsection 12 of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee finds that the
enactment of H.R. 1129 will not result in any changes in
existing law.