S 3358
Native American Seeds Act of 2025
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Bill overview
The Native American Seeds Act of 2025 aims to support and protect Native American seeds, which are considered culturally significant to Indian Tribes. The bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to work with Tribes to identify these seeds and bolster efforts to preserve them through seed banks and traditional agricultural practices. It also ensures the confidentiality of information shared between Tribes and the Department of the Interior regarding these seeds. Finally, the Act prioritizes the Secretary’s interpretation of any ambiguous provisions.
Key provisions
- Directs the Secretary of the Interior to work with Indian Tribes to identify Native American seeds.
- Supports efforts to protect Native American seeds through seed banks and related facilities.
- Promotes the preservation of traditional agriculture systems related to Native American seeds.
- Guarantees the confidentiality of information shared between Tribes and the Department of the Interior.
- Establishes a process for judicial review, deferring to the Secretary’s interpretation of ambiguous provisions.
Who is affected
- Indian Tribes
- The Department of the Interior
- Seed banks and related facilities
- Traditional agricultural communities
Notable changes
- Establishes a specific process for protecting Native American seeds, recognizing their cultural significance.
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
S. 3358
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
A BILL
To assist Indian Tribes in protecting Native American seeds, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Native American Seeds Act of 2025
.
In this Act:
The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
The term Native American seed means a seed of traditional or cultural significance to an Indian Tribe.
The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
to determine which seeds are Native American seeds; and
to support—
efforts of Indian Tribes to protect Native American seeds;
Native American seed banks and related facilities; and
traditional agriculture systems of Indian Tribes that provide for the nurturing and harvesting of Native American seeds.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall not disclose or cause to be disclosed any information that is—
provided to the Secretary by an Indian Tribe for the purposes of this Act; and
identified by the Indian Tribe as culturally sensitive, proprietary, or otherwise confidential.
Notwithstanding section 706 of title 5, United States Code, a court shall defer to the reasonable interpretation of the Secretary with respect to any ambiguous provision of this Act.