Bill Summary
The "Native American Seeds Act of 2025" is designed to assist Indian Tribes in preserving and protecting Native American seeds, which hold traditional and cultural significance for these communities.
Key components of the legislation include:
1. **Collaboration and Support**: The Secretary of the Interior is tasked with working alongside Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations to identify Native American seeds and provide support for their protection. This includes backing seed banks, agricultural practices, and efforts aimed at nurturing and harvesting these culturally significant seeds.
2. **Confidentiality**: The Act ensures that any culturally sensitive or proprietary information shared by Indian Tribes with the Secretary remains confidential and cannot be disclosed without consent.
3. **Judicial Review**: The legislation provides that courts will defer to the Secretary’s interpretations of any ambiguous provisions in the Act, thereby granting the Secretary a degree of discretion in its implementation.
4. **Funding**: The Act does not authorize additional funding for its provisions; any activities must rely on previously appropriated funds.
Overall, the legislation aims to safeguard Native American agricultural heritage while respecting tribal sovereignty and confidentiality.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the "Native American Seeds Act of 2025" could affect people:
1. **Empowerment of Indigenous Communities**: The Act provides a framework for Indian Tribes to identify and protect Native American seeds that are culturally significant. This empowerment means that Indigenous communities can reclaim their agricultural heritage, promote traditional farming practices, and increase food sovereignty. As a result, individuals within these tribes could experience a stronger connection to their cultural identity and improve their community resilience.
2. **Support for Seed Banks and Traditional Agriculture**: By supporting the establishment of Native American seed banks and related facilities, the Act could lead to enhanced access to diverse seed varieties. This support can benefit not only tribal members but also those interested in sustainable agriculture and biodiversity. Increased availability of Native American seeds can encourage collaborative agricultural practices, workshops, and educational programs, fostering broader community engagement in environmental sustainability efforts.
3. **Protection of Cultural Knowledge**: The provision that protects sensitive information shared by Indian Tribes ensures that culturally significant knowledge and practices related to Native American seeds are safeguarded. This protection can help prevent biopiracy and unauthorized use of traditional agricultural knowledge by outside entities, thus allowing Indigenous peoples to maintain control over their resources. For individuals, this means that their cultural heritage is respected and preserved, leading to a sense of pride and continuity in their traditions.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6415 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6415
To assist Indian Tribes in protecting Native American seeds.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 3, 2025
Mrs. Torres of California (for herself and Mr. LaMalfa) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and
in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To assist Indian Tribes in protecting Native American seeds.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as ``Native American Seeds Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the
meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(2) Native american seed.--The term ``Native American
seed'' means a seed of traditional or cultural significance to
an Indian Tribe.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(4) Tribal organization.--The term ``Tribal organization''
has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
SEC. 3. PROTECTION OF NATIVE AMERICAN SEEDS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall work with Indian Tribes and
Tribal organizations to--
(1) determine which seeds are Native American seeds; and
(2) support--
(A) efforts of Indian Tribes to protect Native
American seeds;
(B) Native American seed banks and related
facilities; and
(C) traditional agriculture systems of Indian
Tribes that provide for the nurturing and harvesting of
Native American seeds.
(b) Protection of Information.--Notwithstanding any other provision
of law, the Secretary shall not disclose or cause to be disclosed any
information that is--
(1) provided to the Secretary by an Indian Tribe for the
purposes of this Act; and
(2) identified by the Indian Tribe as culturally sensitive,
proprietary, or otherwise confidential.
SEC. 4. JUDICIAL REVIEW.
Notwithstanding section 706 of title 5, United States Code, a court
shall defer to the Secretary's reasonable interpretation of any
ambiguous provision of this Act.
SEC. 5. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.
No additional funds are authorized to carry out the requirements of
section 3, and the activities authorized by section 3 are subject to
the availability of appropriations made in advance for such purposes.
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