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.

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Bill ID: 119/s/612
Last Updated: January 22, 2026

Sponsored by

Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]

ID: S001194

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Held at the desk.

December 17, 2025

Introduced

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.

🏛️

Committee Review

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed Senate

🏛️

House Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another bill, another exercise in futility. Let's dissect this mess.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The main purpose of S 612 is to throw more money at Native American tourism initiatives, because that's clearly the solution to all their problems. The objectives are as vague as a politician's promise: "to improve visitor experience" and "authorize grants." Wow, real specific.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** This bill amends the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act (because who doesn't love a mouthful of bureaucratic jargon?) by adding a new section that authorizes grants to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations. Oh boy, more pork barrel spending! The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Native Hawaiian Relations, and other federal agencies get to play Santa Claus with $35 million in taxpayer dollars over the next five years.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects: Native American tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations. You know, the ones who will actually benefit from this bill – or at least, that's what the politicians want you to think. In reality, it's just another way for bureaucrats to justify their existence and line the pockets of their favorite special interest groups.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a classic case of "throwing money at a problem" without actually addressing the underlying issues. It's like giving a patient with terminal cancer a Band-Aid and calling it a day. The real impact will be on the taxpayers, who'll foot the bill for this feel-good legislation. Meanwhile, Native American communities will continue to struggle with poverty, lack of access to education and healthcare, and systemic inequality – but hey, at least they'll have some nice tourism brochures!

Diagnosis: This bill is a symptom of a deeper disease – the politicians' addiction to pork barrel spending and their inability to address real problems. It's a case of " legislative myopia," where they focus on short-term gains rather than long-term solutions.

Treatment: A healthy dose of skepticism, a strong stomach for bureaucratic nonsense, and a willingness to call out politicians for their hypocrisy. But let's be real, this bill will pass with flying colors, because who doesn't love a good photo op with Native American leaders?

Related Topics

Civil Rights & Liberties State & Local Government Affairs Transportation & Infrastructure Small Business & Entrepreneurship Government Operations & Accountability National Security & Intelligence Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Federal Budget & Appropriations Congressional Rules & Procedures
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$68,850
21 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$49,050
Committees
$0
Individuals
$19,800

No PAC contributions found

1
OTOE MISSOURIA TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA
2 transactions
$6,600
2
HABEMATOLEL POMO OF UPPER LAKE
2 transactions
$6,600
3
TURTLE MOUNTAIN BAND OF CHIPPEWA
2 transactions
$6,600
4
CHEROKEE NATION
2 transactions
$5,000
5
CATAWBA INDIAN NATION
1 transaction
$3,300
6
SENECA NATION OF INDIANS
1 transaction
$3,300
7
PASCUA YAQUI TRIBE
1 transaction
$3,300
8
COWLITZ INDIAN TRIBE
1 transaction
$3,000
9
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
2 transactions
$2,300
10
ONEIDA NATION
2 transactions
$2,000
11
CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA
2 transactions
$1,050
12
SALT RIVER PIMA MARICOPA INDIAN COMMUNITY
1 transaction
$1,000
13
COLORADO RIVER INDIAN TRIBES
1 transaction
$1,000
14
MUSCOGEE CREEK NATION
1 transaction
$1,000
15
SUQUAMISH INDIAN TRIBE
1 transaction
$1,000
16
TOHONO O'ODHAM NATION
1 transaction
$1,000
17
MUCKLESHOOT INDIAN TRIBE
1 transaction
$1,000

No committee contributions found

1
ZHAO, PENG
2 transactions
$6,600
2
CHEN, YU
2 transactions
$6,600
3
WINFREY, CHRISTOPHER
1 transaction
$3,300
4
ELLEN, DAVID
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 1 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]

ID: M001153

Top Contributors

10

1
MUCKLESHOOT INDIAN TRIBE
Organization AUBURN, WA
$3,300
May 15, 2023
2
THE CHICKASAW NATION
Organization ADA, OK
$2,500
Dec 20, 2023
3
MUCKLESHOOT INDIAN TRIBE
Organization AUBURN, WA
$1,000
Nov 20, 2024
4
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,000
Oct 26, 2023
5
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,000
Jun 3, 2024
6
PUYALLUP TRIBE OF INDIANS
Organization TACOMA, WA
$1,000
Sep 30, 2024
7
SUQUAMISH INDIAN TRIBE
Organization SUQUAMISH, WA
$1,000
Sep 30, 2024
8
TOHONO O'ODHAM NATION
Organization SELLS, AZ
$1,000
Aug 9, 2024
9
CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA
Organization DURANT, OK
$550
Oct 26, 2023
10
SEGAL, PAUL
LS POWER DEVELOPMENT, LLC CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$3,300
Dec 16, 2023

Donor Network - Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 24 nodes and 33 connections

Total contributions: $75,650

Top Donors - Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]

Showing top 21 donors by contribution amount

17 Orgs4 Individuals