[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 117 (Friday, August 2, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1474]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   JOINT COMMISSION ON POLICIES AND PROGRAMS AFFECTING ALASKA NATIVES

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DON YOUNG

                               of alaska

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 2, 1996

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to offer legislation 
which will authorize a study to assist in the implementation of the 
recommendation of the Joint Federal/State Commission on Policies and 
Programs affecting Alaska Natives. This legislation is needed to 
address the social and economic crisis status of Alaska Natives.
  In 1990, President Bush signed Public Law 101-379 which created a 
public commission funded jointly by Federal and State appropriations to 
complete a comprehensive study on the social and economic conditions of 
Alaska Natives and the effectiveness of programs and policies of the 
United States and the State of Alaska which provide services to the 
Alaska Native communities. This was in response to the 1989 report 
``Report on the Status of Alaska Natives: A Call for Action'' published 
in cooperation by the Alaska Federation of Natives and the University 
of Alaska's Institute for Social and Economic Research. A 14-member 
commission was formed, half of whom were appointed by the President of 
the United States and the remainder of whom were appointed by the 
Governor of the State of Alaska.
  The primary focus of the study was to provide an in-depth analysis, 
with specific recommendations to Congress, the President of the United 
States, the Alaska Legislature, the Governor of the State of Alaska, 
and the Native community on the social and economic conditions of 
Alaska Natives. The commission completed 2 years of research, public 
hearings, and task force discussions, and submitted its report to the 
Congress, the President of the United States, the Alaska Legislature, 
and the Governor of Alaska in May 1994.
  Volume one of a three-volume report provides an overview and summary 
of 22 months of hearings, research, and deliberations. ``Native Self-
Reliance,'' ``Native Self-Determination,'' and the ``Integrity of 
Alaska Native Cultures'' are the central fundamentals of the first 
volume. It also provides the historical causes of Native personal and 
cultural breakdowns. Also include in this first volume are statistics 
on Native social/cultural, judicial/correctional, economic, 
educational, physical/behavioral health problems. Finally, 34 main 
policy recommendations--plus an additional 76 recommendations--was 
submitted to the United States, and State of Alaska, the Alaska Native 
community and the general public.
  Volume two provides a narrative text, data, and recommendations of 
five separate studies of Native problems conducted by the Commission's 
task forces: ``Alaska Native Physical Health,'' ``Social/Cultural 
Issues and the Alcohol Crisis,'' ``Economic Issues and Rural 
Development; Alaska Native Education,'' and ``Self-Governance & Self-
Determination.''
  The final volume provides a full narrative text, data, and 
recommendations of two separate studies of Native public policy issues 
conducted by the Commission: ``Alaska Native Subsistence,'' and 
``Alaska Native Tribal Government.''
  The Committee on Resources held a joint oversight hearing with the 
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Indian 
Affairs Committee to accept testimony on the Alaska Native Commission 
report dated May 1994 from the Alaska Native Community, the Governor of 
the State of Alaska, industry representatives and from the 
administration. Their testimony focused on recommendations provided by 
the Commission report on how to address the extremely volatile social 
and economic conditions of Alaska Natives. This legislation is the 
outcome of the testimony accepted by all entities in the first step of 
addressing the crisis status of the Alaska Natives.

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