[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 55 (Friday, March 24, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E693]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


             RULE REGARDING THE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT

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                           HON. PAT WILLIAMS

                               of montana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 24, 1995
  Mr. WILLIAMS. Mr. Speaker, A couple of days ago I voted against the 
rule on welfare reform. The rule before us will preclude any debate on 
the effect of drastically altering our current welfare system on some 
of this country's neediest and most underserved individuals, its 1.2 
million native Americans.
  So much for bipartisanship. Recognizing the special government to 
government relationship that the U.S. Government has with the country's 
533 federally recognized tribes, individuals from both sides of the 
aisle attempted to craft an amendment that would respect this special 
relationship and the tribes' treaty rights by providing native 
Americans direct access to the block-granting process. This rule 
precludes debate on the merits of this amendment.
  This action signals a sad departure from the national trend toward 
native American self-determination and independence which was initially 
recognized by a Republican President, Richard Nixon. In his special 
message to Congress on July 8, 1970, then President Nixon articulated 
the right of Indian tribes to take over control or operation of 
federally funded and administered programs. Adoption of this rule 
throws self-determination out the door and signals a return to the 
failed paternalistic policies which have ill-served America's Indian 
peoples.
  This rule silences the voice of the first Americans, native peoples.
  

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