[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 135 (Thursday, September 26, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H11267-H11268]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PROVIDING FOR STUDY ON POLICIES AND PROGRAMS AFFECTING ALASKA NATIVES
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 3973) to provide for a study of the recommendations
of the Joint Federal-State Commission on Policies and Programs
Affecting Alaska Natives, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 3973
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF POLICY.
The Congress finds and declares the following:
(1) The Joint Federal-State Commission on Policies and
Programs Affecting Alaska Natives (hereafter in this Act
referred to as the ``Alaska Natives Commission'') was
established by Public Law 101-379 (42 U.S.C. 2991a note)
following the publication in 1989 of the ``Report on the
Status of Alaska Natives: A Call for Action'' by the Alaska
Federation of Natives and after extensive congressional
hearings which focused on the need for the first
comprehensive assessment of the social, cultural, and
economic condition of Alaska's 86,000 Natives since the
enactment of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, Public
Law 92-203.
(2) The 14 member Alaska Natives Commission held 15
regional hearings throughout Alaska between July 1992 and
October 1993, and 2 statewide hearings in Anchorage
coinciding with the Conventions of 1992 and 1993 of the
Alaska Federation of Natives. In May 1994, the Alaska Natives
Commission issued its 3 volume, 440 page report. As required
by Public Law 101-379, the report was formally conveyed to
the Congress, the President of the United States, and the
Governor of Alaska.
(3) The Alaska Natives Commission found that many Alaska
Native individuals, families, and communities were
experiencing a social, cultural, and economic crisis marked
by rampant unemployment, lack of economic opportunity,
alcohol abuse, depression, and morbidity and mortality
rates that have been described by health care
professionals as ``staggering''.
(4) The Alaska Natives Commission found that due to the
high rate of unemployment and lack of economic opportunities
for Alaska Natives, government programs for the poor have
become the foundation of many village economies. Displacing
traditional Alaska Native social safety nets, these well-
meaning programs have undermined the healthy interdependence
and self-sufficiency of Native tribes and families and have
put Native tribes and families at risk of becoming permanent
dependencies of Government.
(5) Despite these seemingly insurmountable problems, the
Alaska Natives Commission found that Alaska Natives, building
on the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, had begun a
unique process of critical self-examination which, if
supported by the United States Congress through innovative
legislation, and effective public administration at all
levels including traditional native governance, could provide
the basis for an Alaska Native social, cultural, economic,
and spiritual renewal.
(6) The Alaska Natives Commission recognized that the key
to the future well-being of Alaska Natives lay in--
(A) the systematic resumption of responsibility by Alaska
Natives for the well-being of their members,
(B) the strengthening of their economies,
(C) the strengthening, operation, and control of their
systems of governance, social services, education, health
care, and law enforcement, and
(D) exercising rights they have from their special
relationship with the Federal Government and as citizens of
the United States and Alaska.
(7) The Alaska Natives Commission recognized that the
following 3 basic principles must be respected in addressing
the myriad of problems facing Alaska Natives:
(A) Self-reliance.
(B) Self-determination.
(C) Integrity of Native cultures.
(8) There is a need to address the problems confronting
Alaska Natives. This should be done rapidly, with certainty,
and in conformity with the real economic, social, and
cultural needs of Alaska Natives.
(9) Congress retains and has exercised its constitutional
authority over Native affairs in Alaska subsequent to the
Treaty of Cession and does so now through this Act.
SEC. 2. ALASKA NATIVE IMPLEMENTATION STUDY.
(a) Findings.--The Congress finds and declares that--
(1) the Alaska Natives Commission adopted certain
recommendations raising important policy questions which are
unresolved in Alaska and which require further study and
review before Congress considers legislation to implement
solutions to address these recommendations; and
(2) the Alaska Federation of Natives is the representative
body of statewide Alaska Native interests best suited to
further investigate and report to Congress with proposals to
implement the recommendations of the Alaska Natives
Commission.
(b) Grant.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services
shall make a grant to the Alaska Federation of Natives to
conduct the study and submit the report required by this
section. Such grant may only be made if the Alaska Federation
of Natives agrees to abide by the requirements of this
section.
(c) Study.--Pursuant to subsection (b), the Alaska
Federation of Natives shall--
(1) examine the recommendations of the Alaska Natives
Commission;
(2) examine initiatives in the United States, Canada, and
elsewhere for successful ways that issues similar to the
issues addressed by the Alaska Natives Commission have been
addressed;
(3) conduct hearings within the Alaska Native community on
further ways in which the Commission's recommendations might
be implemented; and
(4) recommend enactment of specific provisions of law and
other actions the Congress should take to implement such
recommendations.
(d) Consideration of Local Control.--In developing its
recommendations pursuant to subsection (c)(4), the Alaska
Federation of Natives shall give specific attention to the
ways in which the recommendations may be achieved at the
local level with maximum local control of the implementation
of the recommendations.
(e) Report.--Not later than 12 months after the date on
which the grant is made under subsection (b), the Alaska
Federation of Natives shall submit a report on the study
conducted under this section, together with the
recommendations developed pursuant to subsection (c)(4), to
the President and the Congress and to the Governor and
legislature of the State of Alaska. In addition, the Alaska
Federation of Natives shall make the report available to
Alaska Native villages and organizations and to the general
public.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated $350,000 for the grant under subsection
(b).
(g) Additional State Funding.--The Congress encourages the
State of Alaska to provide the additional funding necessary
for the completion of the study under this section.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
[[Page H11268]]
Alaska [Mr. Young] and the gentleman from American Samoa [Mr.
Faleomavaega] each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alaska [Mr. Young].
(Mr. YOUNG of Alaska asked and was given permission to revise and
extend his remarks.)
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3973 is legislation which I
introduced in consultation with the Alaska Federation of Natives. This
legislation will authorize a study to assist in the implementation of
the recommendations of the Joint Federal/State Commission on Policies
and Programs affecting Alaska Natives and is needed to begin to address
the social and economic crisis of Alaska Natives.
The primary focus of the 1992 Commission 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 discussion and submitted its
report in May of 1994.
The Committee on Resources held a joint oversight hearing in November
of 1995 with the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the
Senate Indian Affairs Committee to hear testimony on the Alaska Native
Commission report dated May 1994 from the Alaska Native Community, the
Governor of the State of Alaska 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 Alaska Natives.
The Administration has verbally stated no opposition to this
legislation and has a letter forthcoming.
I urge my colleagues to vote for passage of H.R. 3973.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1400
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
(Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend
his remarks.)
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support this legislation of
my colleague from Alaska, the distinguished chairman of the committee
and the chief sponsor of this bill.
We share the majority's concern, Mr. Speaker, about the need to do
something to improve the economic and social conditions of Alaska
Natives. We are proud of the work we have done on a bipartisan basis
with the other side in the past. We hope that the chairman and the
Alaskan Federation of Natives will continue to work with us on this
issue.
Mr. Speaker, we agree with the thrust of the 1994 report on the Joint
Federal-State Commission on Policies and Programs Affecting Alaska
Natives. Both the Congress and the State must give Alaskan Native
tribes greater opportunities for self-governance. One obvious form
would be in terms of enhanced governmental powers, some that we have
successfully fought for through passage of Self-Determination Act
amendments of 1994, and the Self-Governance Act of 1994.
Another obvious form that would be the recognition and protection of
Alaskan Native subsistence hunting and fishing rights, including those
won recently by Natives in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision in
the ``Katie John'' decision, as well as congressional review of whether
or not ``Indian Country'' exists in Alaska.
Mr. Speaker, we are all too aware of the fact that of the more than
200 Alaskan Native villages, two-thirds of them do not have piped water
and sewer systems. Even health clinics do not have running water. In
the Copper River Basin area, incidences of fetal alcohol syndrome in
the late 1980's occurred at the astonishing rate of 350 per 1,000 live
births. A recent CDC study shows Alaskan Natives are dying from
tobacco-related illnesses at a higher rate than any other group in
Alaska. Despite the fact Alaskan Natives have the highest medium income
among all Native Americans, more than 25 percent still live below the
poverty level.
Mr. Speaker, these statistics are, in a word, heartbreaking. There is
no question we take our commitment to improving the lives of Native
Americans seriously. We intend to do something about these conditions.
We simply believe we can do something more quickly if we can work
together as we have tried and are doing so on a bipartisan basis.
Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of this legislation.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ewing). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Alaska [Mr. Young] that the House suspend
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3973, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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