§ 3221 — Native American Programs

(1) The purpose of this section is to support employment and training activities for Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian individuals in order— (A) to develop more fully the academic, occupational, and literacy skills of such individuals; (B) to make such individuals more competitive in the workforce and to equip them with the entrepreneurial skills necessary for successful self-employment; and (C) to promote the economic and social development of Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities in accordance with the goals and values of such communities. (2) and the government-to-government relationship between the Federal Government and Indian tribal governments. (b) As used in this section: (1) The term “Alaska Native” includes a Native and a descendant of a Native, as such terms are defined in subsections (b) and (r) of section 1602 of title 43. (2) The terms “Indian”, “Indian tribe”, and “tribal organization” have the meanings given such terms in subsections (d), (e), and (l), respectively, of section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).1 (3) The terms “Native Hawaiian” and “Native Hawaiian organization” have the meanings given such terms in section 7517 of title 20. (c) Every 4 years, the Secretary shall, on a competitive basis, make grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with, Indian tribes, tribal organizations, Alaska Native entities, Indian-controlled organizations serving Indians, or Native Hawaiian organizations to carry out the authorized activities described in subsection (d). (1) Funds made available under subsection (c) shall be used to carry out the activities described in paragraph (2) that— (A) are consistent with this section; and (B) are necessary to meet the needs of Indians, Alaska Natives, or Native Hawaiians preparing to enter, reenter, or retain unsubsidized employment leading to self-sufficiency. (A) Funds made available under subsection (c) shall be used for— (i) comprehensive workforce development activities for Indians, Alaska Natives, or Native Hawaiians, including training on entrepreneurial skills; or (ii) supplemental services for Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian youth on or near Indian reservations and in Oklahoma, Alaska, or Hawaii. (B) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, individuals who were eligible to participate in programs under section 1671 of this title (as such section was in effect on the day before August 7, 1998) shall be eligible to participate in an activity assisted under this section. (e) In order to receive a grant or enter into a contract or cooperative agreement under this section, an entity described in subsection (c) shall submit to the Secretary a program plan that describes a 4-year strategy for meeting the needs of Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian individuals, as appropriate, in the area served by such entity. Such plan shall— (1) be consistent with the purpose of this section; (2) identify the population to be served; (3) identify the education and employment needs of the population to be served and the manner in which the activities to be provided will strengthen the ability of the individuals served to obtain or retain unsubsidized employment leading to self-sufficiency; (4) describe the activities to be provided and the manner in which such activities are to be integrated with other appropriate activities; and (5) describe, after the entity submitting the plan consults with the Secretary, the performance accountability measures to be used to assess the performance of entities in carrying out the activities assisted under this section, which shall include the primary indicators of performance described in section 3141(b)(2)(A) of this title and expected levels of performance for such indicators, in accordance with subsection (h). (f) Each entity receiving assistance under subsection (c) may consolidate such assistance with assistance received from related programs in accordance with the provisions of the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Demonstration Act of 1992 (25 U.S.C. 3401 et seq.).1 (g) Nothing in this section shall be construed— (1) to limit the eligibility of any entity described in subsection (c) to participate in any activity offered by a State or local entity under this Act; or (2) to preclude or discourage any agreement, between any entity described in subsection (c) and any State or local entity, to facilitate the provision of services by such entity or to the population served by such entity. (A) The Secretary, in consultation with the Native American Employment and Training Council, shall develop a set of performance indicators and standards that is in addition to the primary indicators of performance described in section 3141(b)(2)(A) of this title and that shall be applicable to programs under this section. (B) Such performance indicators and standards shall take into account— (i) the purpose of this section as described in subsection (a)(1); (ii) the needs of the groups served by this section, including the differences in needs among such groups in various geographic service areas; and (iii) the economic circumstances of the communities served, including differences in circumstances among various geographic service areas. (2) The Secretary and the entity described in subsection (c) shall reach agreement on the levels of performance for each of the primary indicators of performance described in section 3141(b)(2)(A) of this title, taking into account economic conditions, characteristics of the individuals served, and other appropriate factors and using, to the extent practicable, the statistical adjustment model under section 3141(b)(3)(A)(viii) of this title. The levels agreed to shall be the adjusted levels of performance and shall be incorporated in the program plan. (1) The Secretary shall designate a single organizational unit within the Department of Labor that shall have primary responsibility for the administration of the activities authorized under this section. (2) The Secretary shall consult with the entities described in subsection (c) in— (A) establishing regulations to carry out this section, including regulations relating to the performance accountability measures for entities receiving assistance under this section; and (B) developing a funding distribution plan that takes into consideration previous levels of funding (prior to July 22, 2014) to such entities. (A) With respect to an entity described in subsection (c), the Secretary, notwithstanding any other provision of law, may, pursuant to a request submitted by such entity that meets the requirements established under subparagraph (B), waive any of the statutory or regulatory requirements of this subchapter that are inconsistent with the specific needs of the entity described in such subsection, except that the Secretary may not waive requirements relating to wage and labor standards, worker rights, participation and protection of workers and participants, grievance procedures, and judicial review. (B) An entity described in subsection (c) that requests a waiver under subparagraph (A) shall submit a plan to the Secretary to improve the program of workforce investment activities carried out by the entity, which plan shall meet the requirements established by the Secretary and shall be generally consistent with the requirements of section 3249(i)(3)(B) of this title. (A) Using funds made available to carry out this section, the Secretary shall establish a Native American Employment and Training Council to facilitate the consultation described in paragraph (2) and to provide the advice described in subparagraph (C). (B) The Council shall be composed of individuals, appointed by the Secretary, who are representatives of the entities described in subsection (c). (C) The Council shall advise the Secretary on the operation and administration of the programs assisted under this section, including the selection of the individual appointed as head of the unit established under paragraph (1). (i) Members of the Council shall serve without compensation. (ii) The members of the Council shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Council. (iii) The Secretary shall provide the Council with such administrative support as may be necessary to perform the functions of the Council. (E) The Council shall select a chairperson from among its members. (F) The Council shall meet not less than twice each year. (G) Section 1013 of title 5 shall not apply to the Council. (5) The Secretary, acting through the unit established under paragraph (1), is authorized to provide technical assistance to entities described in subsection (c) that receive assistance under such subsection to enable such entities to improve the activities authorized under this section that are provided by such entities. (6) A federally recognized Indian tribe that administers funds provided under this section and funds provided by more than one State under other sections of this subchapter may enter into an agreement with the Secretary and the Governors of the affected States to transfer the funds provided by the States to the program administered by the tribe under this section. (j) Grants made and contracts and cooperative agreements entered into under this section shall be subject to the requirements of chapter 75 of subtitle V of title 31, and charging of costs under this section shall be subject to appropriate circulars issued by the Office of Management and Budget. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary is authorized to award grants, on a competitive basis, to entities with demonstrated experience and expertise in developing and implementing programs for the unique populations who reside in Alaska or Hawaii, including public and private nonprofit organizations, tribal organizations, American Indian tribal colleges or universities, institutions of higher education, or consortia of such organizations or institutions, to improve job training and workforce investment activities for such unique populations. (2) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection— (A) $461,000 for fiscal year 2015; (B) $497,000 for fiscal year 2016; (C) $507,000 for fiscal year 2017; (D) $518,000 for fiscal year 2018; (E) $530,000 for fiscal year 2019; and (F) $542,000 for fiscal year 2020.