U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) recently offered a bipartisan bill to improve tribal consultation, data reporting, and interagency collaboration for economic development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
“Native American communities are an integral part of South Dakota. It is crucial those communities have the resources necessary to thrive for future generations,” Sen. Rounds said on Nov. 16. “I am pleased to introduce this bipartisan legislation to improve tribal access to federal economic development programs.”
The Rural Economic-Development Assistance and Consultation to Help (REACH) Our Tribes Act, S. 3270, which Sen. Rounds sponsored on Nov. 9 alongside lead original cosponsor U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), would require USDA to establish a formal budgetary consultation process for the annual budget process and for Farm Bills, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
Additionally, S. 3270 would require USDA to analyze, estimate, and publicly report obligations made to tribal entities, according to the summary.
Among other provisions, S. 3270 would require USDA to work with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Economic Development Administration to streamline application requirements for economic development programs and require the U.S. Commerce Department, in coordination with USDA and other agencies, to establish a public repository of economic development programs available to tribes, the summary says.
“Tribal communities in the State of Washington are economic engines that generate jobs and prosperity,” said Sen. Cantwell. “To keep these engines running strong, tribes need to invest in water systems, energy production, broadband infrastructure, and economic development.”
The bill has garnered support from the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Association, the National Congress of American Indians, the Native Farm Bill Coalition, the Rural Community Assistance Partnership, and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.