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HR 1599 112th Congress House

Indian Country Economic Development Act

Official title: To facilitate economic growth and development in Indian country, and for other purposes.

Introduced: April 15, 2011 Introduced by: Cole, Tom Republican · Oklahoma See on congress.gov
Native Americans Advanced technology and technological innovationsCongressional oversightDepartment of the InteriorElementary and secondary education
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Employment and training programsFederal-Indian relationsGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementHigher educationIncome tax creditsIncome tax exclusionIndian lands and resources rightsIndian social and development programsIntergovernmental relationsLabor-management relationsLand transfersMedical educationMinority educationMinority healthRacial and ethnic relationsSecuritiesState and local financeStudent aid and college costsTeaching, teachers, curricula
This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 25, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
May 20, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.
May 2, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity.
Apr 22, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee Indian and Alaska Native Affairs.
Apr 15, 2011
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, Natural Resources, Financial Services, and the Judiciary, 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.
Apr 15, 2011
Introduced in House
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 Latest action August 25, 2011

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Indian Country Economic Development Act - Amends the National Labor Relations Act to provide that any enterprise or institution owned and operated by an Indian tribe and located on its lands is not considered an employer (thus excluding such enterprises or institutions from coverage by such Act).

Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to exclude from gross income student loan repayments: (1) under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, and (2) by the Bureau of Indian Education on behalf its employees whose responsibilities include working with or instructing students who attend schools the Bureau oversees.

Amends the IRC and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to treat the pension plans of Indian tribal governments as other governmental pension plans are treated. (Currently, tribal government pension plans that include employees performing commercial activities are not considered to be governmental plans.)

Permits the issuance of tax-exempt bonds by an Indian tribal government or subdivision if: (1) the obligation is part of an issue substantially all of whose proceeds are to be used in the exercise of an essential government function, or (2) at least 95% of the net proceeds are used to finance facilities on the Indian reservation.

Amends the Securities Act of 1933 to exempt obligations issued by an Indian tribal government or subdivision from registration requirements.

Amends the IRC to provide an employment tax credit to technology companies in Indian country that supply the federal government with domestic sole-sourced technology.

Extends to any Indian tribe the discretion granted under current law only to the Navajo Nation to lease restricted lands without the approval of the Secretary of the Interior in specified circumstances.

Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to provide that the granting of a preference to a member of an Indian tribe by the tribe on account of such membership is not a violation of the prohibition against discrimination under federally assisted programs on the ground of a person's race, color, or national origin.

Allows Indian tribes and tribal organizations to submit proposals to have assistance from more than one federal program integrated to support a community, economic, or business development project that is consistent with the goals of those programs. Requires the federal agency most affected by such a proposal to consult with the other agencies involved and the Department of the Interior in deciding whether or not to approve the proposal and facilitate its implementation.

Authorizes federal agencies to enter into agreements with states for joint financing of such projects.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 9
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1599: Indian Country Economic Development Act. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-1599/
MLA
"H.R. 1599: Indian Country Economic Development Act." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-1599/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1599, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-1599/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1599: Indian Country Economic Development Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-1599/)
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