(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on April 25, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act or the NATIVE Act

(Sec. 4) This bill requires the Department of Commerce, the Department of the Interior, and federal agencies with recreational travel or tourism functions to update their management plans and tourism initiatives to include Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations.

The plans must outline proposals to:

• improve travel and tourism data collection and analysis,
• increase the usability of public information and federal websites,
• support national tourism goals,
• identify programs that could support tourism infrastructure in Native American communities,
• develop visitor portals and assets that showcase and respect the diversity of Native Americans,
• share local Native American heritage through the development of bilingual signage, and
• improve access to transportation programs for building capacity for Native American community tourism and trade.

Interior and Commerce must: (1) work with a facilitator to provide technical assistance to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations regarding participation in the tourism industry, and (2) report on departmental efforts supporting such participation.

(Sec. 5) Federal agencies must: (1) support Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations in showcasing their history, culture, and continuing vitality, enhancing or maintaining their distinctive cultural features, and providing authentic and respectful visitor experiences; (2) assist in interpreting the connections between Native Americans and the national identity of the United States; (3) enhance efforts to promote understanding and respect for diverse cultures in the United States and the relevance of those cultures; and (4) ensure that travelers at airports and ports of entry are welcomed in a manner that both showcases and respects the diversity of Native American communities.

Grants relating to travel, recreation, or tourism for which Indian tribes, tribal organizations, or Native Hawaiian organizations are eligible may be used to: (1) support their efforts to present their story and culture, (2) revitalize Native American communities using the arts and humanities, and (3) carry out this Act.

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on April 25, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act or the NATIVE Act

(Sec. 4) This bill requires the Department of Commerce, the Department of the Interior, and federal agencies with recreational travel or tourism functions to update their management plans and tourism initiatives to include Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations.

The plans must outline proposals to:

• improve travel and tourism data collection and analysis,
• increase the usability of public information and federal websites,
• support national tourism goals,
• identify programs that could support tourism infrastructure in Native American communities,
• develop visitor portals and assets that showcase and respect the diversity of Native Americans,
• share local Native American heritage through the development of bilingual signage, and
• improve access to transportation programs for building capacity for Native American community tourism and trade.

Interior and Commerce must: (1) work with a facilitator to provide technical assistance to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations regarding participation in the tourism industry, and (2) report on departmental efforts supporting such participation.

(Sec. 5) Federal agencies must: (1) support Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations in showcasing their history, culture, and continuing vitality, enhancing or maintaining their distinctive cultural features, and providing authentic and respectful visitor experiences; (2) assist in interpreting the connections between Native Americans and the national identity of the United States; (3) enhance efforts to promote understanding and respect for diverse cultures in the United States and the relevance of those cultures; and (4) ensure that travelers at airports and ports of entry are welcomed in a manner that both showcases and respects the diversity of Native American communities.

Grants relating to travel, recreation, or tourism for which Indian tribes, tribal organizations, or Native Hawaiian organizations are eligible may be used to: (1) support their efforts to present their story and culture, (2) revitalize Native American communities using the arts and humanities, and (3) carry out this Act.

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on April 25, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act or the NATIVE Act

(Sec. 4) This bill requires the Department of Commerce, the Department of the Interior, and federal agencies with recreational travel or tourism functions to update their management plans and tourism initiatives to include Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations.

The plans must outline proposals to:

• improve travel and tourism data collection and analysis,
• increase the usability of public information and federal websites,
• support national tourism goals,
• identify programs that could support tourism infrastructure in Native American communities,
• develop visitor portals and assets that showcase and respect the diversity of Native Americans,
• share local Native American heritage through the development of bilingual signage, and
• improve access to transportation programs for building capacity for Native American community tourism and trade.

Interior and Commerce must: (1) work with a facilitator to provide technical assistance to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations regarding participation in the tourism industry, and (2) report on departmental efforts supporting such participation.

(Sec. 5) Federal agencies must: (1) support Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations in showcasing their history, culture, and continuing vitality, enhancing or maintaining their distinctive cultural features, and providing authentic and respectful visitor experiences; (2) assist in interpreting the connections between Native Americans and the national identity of the United States; (3) enhance efforts to promote understanding and respect for diverse cultures in the United States and the relevance of those cultures; and (4) ensure that travelers at airports and ports of entry are welcomed in a manner that both showcases and respects the diversity of Native American communities.

Grants relating to travel, recreation, or tourism for which Indian tribes, tribal organizations, or Native Hawaiian organizations are eligible may be used to: (1) support their efforts to present their story and culture, (2) revitalize Native American communities using the arts and humanities, and (3) carry out this Act.

Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act or the NATIVE Act

(Sec. 4) This bill requires the Department of Commerce, the Department of the Interior, and federal agencies with recreational travel or tourism functions to update their management plans and tourism initiatives to include Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations.

The plans must outline proposals to:

• improve travel and tourism data collection and analysis,
• increase the usability of public information and federal websites,
• support national tourism goals,
• identify programs that could support tourism infrastructure in Native American communities,
• develop visitor portals and assets that showcase and respect the diversity of Native Americans,
• share local Native American heritage through the development of bilingual signage, and
• improve access to transportation programs for building capacity for Native American community tourism and trade.

Interior and Commerce must: (1) work with a facilitator to provide technical assistance to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations regarding participation in the tourism industry, and (2) report on departmental efforts supporting such participation.

(Sec. 5) Federal agencies must: (1) support Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations in showcasing their history, culture, and continuing vitality, enhancing or maintaining their distinctive cultural features, and providing authentic and respectful visitor experiences; (2) assist in interpreting the connections between Native Americans and the national identity of the United States; (3) enhance efforts to promote understanding and respect for diverse cultures in the United States and the relevance of those cultures; and (4) ensure that travelers at airports and ports of entry are welcomed in a manner that both showcases and respects the diversity of Native American communities.

Grants relating to travel, recreation, or tourism for which Indian tribes, tribal organizations, or Native Hawaiian organizations are eligible may be used to: (1) support their efforts to present their story and culture, (2) revitalize Native American communities using the arts and humanities, and (3) carry out this Act.

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act or the NATIVE Act

(Sec. 4) This bill requires the Department of Commerce, the Department of the Interior, and federal agencies with recreational travel or tourism functions to update their management plans and tourism initiatives to include Indian tribes and tribal organizations.

The plans must outline proposals to:

• improve travel and tourism data collection and analysis,
• increase the usability of public information and federal websites,
• support national tourism goals,
• identify programs that could support tourism infrastructure in Native American communities,
• develop visitor portals and assets that showcase and respect the diversity of Native Americans,
• share local Native American heritage through the development of bilingual signage, and
• improve access to transportation programs for building capacity for Native American community tourism and trade.

Interior and Commerce must: (1) work with a facilitator to provide technical assistance to Indian tribes and tribal organizations regarding participation in the tourism industry, and (2) report on departmental efforts supporting such participation.

(Sec. 5) Federal agencies must: (1) support Indian tribes and tribal organizations in showcasing their history, culture, and continuing vitality, enhancing or maintaining their distinctive cultural features, and providing authentic and respectful visitor experiences; (2) assist in interpreting the connections between Native Americans and the national identity of the United States; (3) enhance efforts to promote understanding and respect for diverse cultures in the United States and the relevance of those cultures; and (4) ensure that travelers at airports and ports of entry are welcomed in a manner that both showcases and respects the diversity of Indian tribes and tribal organizations.

Any grants for which Indian tribes or organizations are eligible may be used to: (1) support their efforts to present their story and culture, (2) revitalize Native American communities using the arts and humanities, and (3) carry out this Act.

Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act or the NATIVE Act

Directs the Departments of Commerce and the Interior and each federal agency that has recreational travel or tourism functions or complementary programs to update their management plans and tourism strategies to include Indian tribes and organizations.

Requires the plans to outline policy proposals to:

• identify agency programs that could be used to support tourism capacity building and help sustain tourism infrastructure in Native American communities;
• develop innovative visitor portals for parks, landmarks, heritage and cultural sites, and assets that showcase the diversity of the indigenous peoples of the United States;
• share local Native American heritage through the development of interpretive and directional signage that could include local Native American languages; and
• improve access to transportation programs related to Native American community capacity building for tourism and trade.

Directs each agency to consult with Indian tribes and the Native American community to identify appropriate levels of their inclusion in federal tourism activities.

Requires Interior to enter into an agreement with an entity with a record in tribal communities of developing and sustaining tourism in a manner that respects and honors native traditions and values to serve as a facilitator between Interior, Commerce, and the Indian tribes and organizations to identify and deliver assistance needed to empower such tribes and organizations to participate fully in the tourism industry.

Requires each agency to: (1) help empower Indian tribes and organizations to showcase their heritage, foods, traditions, history, and continuing vitality; (2) support the efforts of Indian tribes and organizations to provide visitor experiences that are authentic and respectful; and (3) enhance efforts to promote understanding and respect for diverse cultures and subcultures in the United States.

Authorizes the use of federal grants for which Indian tribes or organizations are eligible to: (1) support efforts to tell their story as the First Peoples of the United States; and (2) use the arts and humanities to help revitalize Native communities, promote economic development, increase livability, and present the uniqueness of the United States to visitors in a way that celebrates its diversity.

Directs the Smithsonian Institution to work with Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and nonprofit organizations to establish long-term partnerships with other museums and educational and cultural organizations to: (1) share collections, exhibitions, interpretive materials, and educational strategies; and (2) conduct joint research and collaborative projects that would support tourism efforts for Indian tribes and organizations.