Native Children’s Commission Implementation Act of 2026

658T. Native American Advisory Committee on Early Childhood

(a) Establishment

(1) In general. The Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families (referred to in this section as the Secretary), shall establish within the Office of Early Childhood Development an advisory committee to be known as the Native American Advisory Committee on Early Childhood.

(2) Purpose. The Committee shall facilitate, but not supplant, government-to-government consultation between the Secretary and Indian tribes on matters relating to early childhood development of American Indian and Alaska Native children.

(b) Membership

(1) Composition. The Committee shall be composed of 15 members, appointed in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3), as follows:

(A) 1 representative from each of the 12 service areas of the Indian Health Service.

(B) 1 representative from the National Indian Child Care Association.

(C) 1 representative from the National Indian Head Start Association.

(D) 1 representative from a national urban Indian organization.

(2) Appointment. The Secretary shall appoint the members of the Committee from nominations submitted by Indian tribes, tribal organizations, urban Indian organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations.

(3) Qualifications. To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure that—

(A) members of the Committee—

(i) represent diverse geographic regions, including Alaska and Hawai‘i;

(ii) have expertise in Tribally led early childhood education efforts; and

(iii) have expertise in areas such as early childhood development, Tribal child care, or public health; and

(B) not fewer than 1 member represents Native youth.

(4) Terms

(A) In general. Each member of the Committee shall be appointed for a term of 3 years.

(B) Reappointment. Members of the Committee may be reappointed for not more than 2 consecutive terms.

(C) Vacancies. Vacancies in the membership of the Committee shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the remainder of the term.

(c) Duties. The Committee shall—

(1) identify emerging issues affecting the early childhood of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children;

(2) propose solutions and provide recommendations, with respect to American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children—

(A) to improve programs for Tribes that support early childhood education and development;

(B) to improve access to child care;

(C) to enhance culturally appropriate care; and

(D) to strengthen early childhood data collection and surveillance;

(3) provide guidance on Tribal consultation for early childhood initiatives;

(4) identify interdepartmental barriers and propose solutions for coordination between the Administration for Children and Families and—

(A) the Indian Health Service;

(B) the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services;

(C) the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; and

(D) the Department of the Interior; and

(5) advise on integration of traditional American Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian practices in early childhood development programs.

(d) Meetings

(1) In general. The Committee shall meet in person not less frequently than twice each year.

(2) Agency representation. The Assistant Secretary for Children and Families (or a designee) shall attend each meeting of the Committee.

(e) Reporting

(1) Committee reports. Not less frequently than annually, the Committee shall submit to the Secretary and the relevant committees of Congress a report on—

(A) the activities of the Committee;

(B) early childhood education and child care challenges affecting Tribal communities; and

(C) recommendations for legislative and administrative actions.

(2) Agency response. Not later than 45 days after receiving a report under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit a written response to—

(A) the Committee; and

(B) the relevant committees of Congress.

(f) Compensation

(1) In general. Members of the Committee shall serve without compensation.

(2) Reimbursement. Members of the Committee shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred in the course of carrying out the duties of Committee.

(g) Support. At the request of the Committee, the Secretary shall appoint such administrative and staff support to the Committee to enable the Committee to carry out the duties of the Committee.

(h) Applicability of FACA. Chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Federal Advisory Committee Act), shall not apply to the Committee.

(i) Definitions. In this section:

(1) Committee. The term Committee means the Native American Advisory Committee on Early Childhood established under subsection (a)(1).

(2) Native youth. The term Native youth means an individual—

(A) who is 24 years of age or less; and

(B) who is an American Indian, an Alaska Native, or a Native Hawaiian.

(3) Relevant committees of congress. The term relevant committees of Congress means—

(A) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate;

(B) the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate; and

(C) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.

(j) Authorization of appropriations. There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $200,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2032.