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S. 254Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)Passed Senate

Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act

Sponsored by Tom UdallSen. Tom Udall (D-NM)
Introduced February 1, 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 12:31 PM UTC

The Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act amends the Native American Programs Act of 1974 to give the language grant program more flexibility and to reauthorize its funding. It changes how long grants can last, adjusts eligibility limits, and sets a new annual funding level. The changes affect the federal program that provides grants to support the preservation and revitalization of Native American languages.

Key Provisions

  • Reduces the maximum number of grants from 10 to 5 in one category and from 15 to 10 in another, giving the program more flexibility in award distribution.
  • Allows grant periods of three, four, or five years instead of only three years.
  • Reauthorizes $13,000,000 in funding for each fiscal year from 2019 through 2023 for the Native American languages program.
  • Corrects a technical reference, changing citations from subsection (e) to subsection (d) in the statute.

Legislative Activity

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9 earlier actions
HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Education and Workforce Committee

November 30, 2017

View full timeline
SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

February 1, 2017

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

Indian Affairs Committee

February 1, 2017

SenateCommittee

Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported favorably.

Indian Affairs Committee

February 8, 2017

SenateCommittee

Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Hoeven without amendment. With written report No. 115-23.

Indian Affairs Committee

April 4, 2017

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 30.

April 4, 2017

SenateFloor

Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7490)

November 29, 2017

SenateFloor

Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S7490)

November 29, 2017

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

November 30, 2017 • 2:55 PM

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

November 30, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Education and Workforce Committee

November 30, 2017

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 254 on the floor

1 Republican
Mitch McConnell
Sen. Mitch McConnellR-KY · Nov 29, 2017

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 30, S. 254. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Hoeven amendment, which is at…

Record

Bill Text

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Referred in HouseIssued November 30, 2017

IC

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 254

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 30, 2017

Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

AN ACT

To amend the Native American Programs Act of 1974 to provide flexibility and reauthorization to ensure the survival and continuing vitality of Native American languages.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act .

2.

Native American languages grant program

Section 803C of the Native American Programs Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 2991b–3) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (b)(7)—

(A)

in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking 10 and inserting 5; and

(B)

in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking 15 and inserting 10; and

(2)

in subsection (e)(2)—

(A)

by striking or 3-year basis and inserting 3-year, 4-year, or 5-year basis; and

(B)

by inserting , 4-year, or 5-year after on a 3-year.

3.

Reauthorization of Native American languages program

(a)

In general

Section 816(e) of the Native American Programs Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 2992d(e)) is amended by striking such sums and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting $13,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023..

(b)

Technical correction

Section 816 of the Native American Programs Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 2992d) is amended in subsections (a) and (b) by striking subsection (e) each place it appears and inserting subsection (d).

Passed the Senate November 29, 2017.

Julie E. Adams,

Secretary