Bill Overview
Title: Recreation and Public Purposes Tribal Parity Act
Description: This bill authorizes the Department of the Interior to sell or lease public lands to federally recognized Indian tribes for recreational or public purposes, subject to annual acreage limitations.
Sponsors: Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1]
Target Audience
Population: Federally recognized Indian tribes
Estimated Size: 1300000
- Federally recognized Indian tribes in the United States will be impacted as the bill authorizes transactions to acquire public lands for recreational or public purposes.
- The bill has specific provisions regarding public lands which means tribes with interests in public land management will be particularly impacted.
- The Department of the Interior's role indicates that related stakeholders involved in land management and legislation will also be impacted.
- All tribes potentially interested in additional lands for recreational or public development purposes are included in the target
Reasoning
- The policy primarily impacts federally recognized Indian tribes, which are the main stakeholders and beneficiaries. The commonness scores reflect their prevalence and also other groups with peripheral involvement.
- The policy will enable tribes to acquire lands more easily for public and recreational purposes, potentially improving wellbeing through access to resources.
- Stakeholders such as non-natives, who are not directly benefiting but may notice changes in land use, will have opinions on this policy though minimal impact on their wellbeing.
- A portion of the US population resides near tribal land and might experience indirect cultural or economic impacts, albeit limited.
- Budget constraints and implementation over time shape the magnitude and reach of benefits. This is reflected in potential gradual improvements in wellbeing scores among impacted communities.
Simulated Interviews
Tribal leader (New Mexico)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a long time coming. Access to more lands for our community will help preserve our culture and improve our quality of life.
- I'm hopeful for initiatives in recreation and public spaces for the youth.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Environmental scientist (Arizona)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy aligns with environmental goals and acknowledges tribal sovereignty.
- It would benefit many projects focused on sustainable land use.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Cultural advocate (South Dakota)
Age: 35 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having more control over land for public use will enrich our community programs.
- I support how it allows tribes to manage their lands sustainably.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 8 |
Federal lands administrator (California)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy increases our workload but also provides great opportunities for collaboration.
- Monitoring its impact will be challenging but rewarding if it supports tribal development.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Rancher (Montana)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have mixed feelings. It might affect my business, but I see the benefits for the tribes.
- Collaboration with tribes could open new markets for us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Student (Oklahoma)
Age: 24 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy reflects a positive shift towards acknowledging tribal rights and history.
- It will be interesting to see practical outcomes, especially in recreational projects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Policy analyst (Washington)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is a significant stepping stone in federal-tribal relations, especially regarding land.
- It sets a precedent for future legislation in this area.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Teacher (North Carolina)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see this as an educational opportunity to teach students about current progress in Native American history.
- It's important to highlight how policies can shape community wellbeing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired (Nevada)
Age: 67 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I appreciate any effort that empowers tribal communities to expand their horizons.
- It reminds me of past initiatives but feels more inclusive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Nonprofit Worker (Alaska)
Age: 42 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy provides hope for expanding our programs and reaching more community members effectively.
- We can finally address some long-standing needs for facilities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 2: $5100000 (Low: $3050000, High: $7150000)
Year 3: $5200000 (Low: $3100000, High: $7300000)
Year 5: $5400000 (Low: $3200000, High: $7500000)
Year 10: $6000000 (Low: $3500000, High: $8500000)
Year 100: $8000000 (Low: $4500000, High: $10500000)
Key Considerations
- The actual fiscal impact largely depends on the scale and speed of transactions, and the acreage limitation policies.
- The administrative efficiency of the Department of the Interior will affect overall cost management.
- Variability between tribes regarding land acquisition interest and development capacity will influence economic outcomes.