Sponsor
Ed Case
Representative · D-HI
The bill provides modest, targeted federal funding and interagency coordination to help tribes develop tourism and local economic opportunities, while risking unequal grant distribution, increased pressure on tribal lands and cultural sites, and modest new federal spending.
Tribal governments and Native Hawaiian organizations receive dedicated federal grants ($35M over FY2025–2029) to develop and promote tourism, boosting local revenue, creating jobs, and supporting community economic development on tribal lands.
Tribal governments and partner organizations benefit from formal interagency cooperation (Commerce, Transportation, Agriculture, HHS, Labor) to coordinate marketing, transit access, workforce training, and community health supports tied to visitation.
Smaller or remote tribal communities and less-resourced organizations may be left behind if grants disproportionately go to better-resourced tribes, widening disparities in who benefits.
Tribal-lands residents and local ecosystems may experience increased strain from higher visitation—damaging cultural sites, natural resources, and local infrastructure if protections and planning are inadequate.
Taxpayers face modest new federal spending that could slightly increase deficits or require offsets, meaning the program's benefits are not guaranteed relative to its cost.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes several federal agencies to make grants to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations to support the Act's tourism-related purposes and authorizes $35M for FY2025–2029.
Representative · D-HI
Establishes a new federal grant program to support Native American tourism by authorizing multiple federal agencies to make grants and enter into agreements with Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations to carry out the purposes of the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act. Provides an authorization of $35 million total to be appropriated across fiscal years 2025–2029 and renumbers an existing statutory provision for effect. The bill centralizes grant authority across the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Office of Native Hawaiian Relations, and several Cabinet agencies (Commerce, Transportation, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, and Labor) so tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations can receive federal assistance for activities aligned with the Act's goals.
Introduced July 2, 2025 by Ed Case · Last progress July 2, 2025