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Native American Languages Act of 1991

Public Law 102-524 · S. 2044 · 102nd Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Oct 26, 1992 · Native Americans

Sponsor: Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI)

Cosponsors (7): Sen. John McCain,

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Native American Languages Act of 1992 - Amends the Native American Programs Act of 1974 to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to eligible tribal governments and Native American organizations to assist Native Americans in assuring the survival and continuing vitality of their languages.

Permits the use of grants for: (1) community language programs; (2) training programs for teachers, interpreters, broadcasters, and translators; (3) production of teaching materials; (4) compilation of oral testimony; and (5) purchase of equipment.

Requires grant applications to include: (1) language status description; and (2) project description and objectives.

Authorizes applicant organizations to form project partnerships with educational institutions.

Provides that grants: (1) may be awarded for up to three years; (2) shall cover up to 80 percent of project costs; and (3) shall be administered through the Administration for Native Americans.

Directs the Secretary to appoint a panel of experts in Indian culture and languages to assist in reviewing grant applications.

Amends the Native American Programs Act of 1974 to authorize FY 1993 through 1997 grant appropriations.

Native Americans Educational Assistance Act - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to enter into an agreement with the National Captioning Institute, Inc., to carry out a demonstration project to determine the effectiveness of captioned educational materials in Bureau of Indian Affairs' schools. Directs the Secretary to submit a project report to the Congress within 12 months of enactment of this Act. Authorizes appropriations.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 14 actions.

  1. Oct 26, 1992Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 102-524.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Oct 15, 1992PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 5, 1992Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to the House amendment by Voice Vote.
  5. Oct 2, 1992FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  6. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
  7. FloorFloor · Mr. Martinez moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  8. Oct 1, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Education and Workforce Committee
  9. Aug 5, 1992FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
  10. Jul 27, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Indian Affairs Committee
  11. Jul 2, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Indian Affairs Committee
  12. Jun 18, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Senate Indian Affairs Committee
  13. Nov 26, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Indian Affairs Committee
  14. Nov 25, 1991IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.