H.R. 2666House115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act of 2017

To amend the PROTECT Act to make Indian tribes eligible for AMBER Alert grants.

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 3:57 PM UTC

The AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act of 2017 changes the PROTECT Act so that federally recognized Indian tribes, Native villages, and Alaska Native corporations can receive federal AMBER Alert grants. It adds tribes to the list of eligible recipients, defines what counts as an Indian tribe, and allows the Attorney General to increase the federal share of grant costs if a tribe lacks sufficient funds. The bill also requires a report on tribes' readiness and challenges in integrating AMBER Alert systems.

Key Provisions

Adds "and Indian tribes" to the eligibility language for AMBER Alert grants, making tribes eligible alongside states.
Defines "Indian tribe" to include federally recognized tribes, Native villages, Regional Corporations, and Village Corporations under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.
Allows the Attorney General to waive or increase the federal share of grant costs for tribes that cannot meet the required federal contribution.
Requires the Attorney General to submit a report within one year assessing tribes' readiness, training needs, technology challenges, and obstacles in integrating AMBER Alert communication plans.

Legislative Activity

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5 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Judiciary Committee

November 29, 2017

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

May 25, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H4592)

May 25, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

May 25, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee

May 25, 2017

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Judiciary Committee

November 29, 2017

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Judiciary Committee

November 29, 2017

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in HouseIssued May 25, 2017

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2666

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 25, 2017

Mr. Biggs (for himself, Ms. Sinema, Mr. Gosar, Mr. O'Halleran, Mr. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico, Mr. Pallone, Ms. Moore, Mr. Mullin, Mr. Nolan, Mr. Gallagher, Mr. Duffy, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Gaetz, Mr. Soto, Mr. Franks of Arizona, Mr. Issa, Mr. Buck, Mr. Gallego, and Mr. Ratcliffe) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend the PROTECT Act to make Indian tribes eligible for AMBER Alert grants.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act of 2017.

AMBER Alert grants for Indian tribes

Section 304 of the PROTECT Act (42 U.S.C. 5791c) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a), by inserting and Indian tribes after States;

(2)

in subsection (b)—

(A)

in paragraph (3), by striking and at the end;

(B)

by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and

(C)

by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:

(4)

the integration of State or regional AMBER Alert communication plans with an Indian tribe; and

;

(3)

in subsection (c)—

(A)

by striking The Federal and inserting the following:

(1)

In general

Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Federal

; and

(B)

by adding at the end the following:

(2)

Waiver of Federal share

If the Attorney General determines that an Indian tribe does not have sufficient funds available to comply with the Federal share requirement under paragraph (1) for the cost of activities funded by a grant for the purpose described in subsection (b)(4), the Attorney General may increase the Federal share of the costs for such activities to the extent the Attorney General determines necessary.

;

(4)

in subsection (e), by striking for grants under and inserting and standards to improve accountability and transparency for grants awarded under;

(5)

by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g);

(6)

by inserting after subsection (e) the following:

(f)

Definition of Indian tribe

In this section, the term Indian tribe means a federally recognized Indian tribe or a Native village, Regional Corporation, or Village Corporation (as those terms are defined in section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602)).

; and

(7)

in subsection (g)(1), as so redesignated—

(A)

by striking 2004 each place it appears and inserting 2018; and

(B)

by striking subsection (b)(3) and inserting paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (b).

Report to Congress

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall submit a report evaluating the readiness, education, and training needs, technological challenges, and specific obstacles encountered by Indian tribes in the integration of State or regional AMBER Alert communication plans to—

(1)

the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate;

(2)

the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;

(3)

the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; and

(4)

the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives.