[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 137 (Saturday, September 28, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11640-S11641]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   JOINT FEDERAL-STATE COMMISSION ON POLICIES AND PROGRAMS AFFECTING 
                             ALASKA NATIVES

  Mr. NICKLES. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
immediately proceed to the consideration of H.R. 3973, which is 
currently at the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 3973) to provide for a study of the 
     recommendations of the Joint Federal-State Commission 
     Policies and Programs Affecting Alaska Natives.


[[Page S11641]]


  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the bill?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. McCAIN. Madam President, I rise today to express my support for 
H.R. 3973, a bill to provide for a study of the recommendations of the 
Joint Federal-State Commission on Policies and Programs Affecting 
Alaska Natives. H.R. 3973 authorizes $350,000 in funding to the Alaska 
Federation of Natives to study how to implement the findings of the 
Alaska Native Commission, which was established under Public Law 101-
379.
  In 1990, the Commission, which was funded jointly by Federal and 
State appropriations, made a comprehensive study of 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.
  In May 1994, the Commission issued a three-volume report containing 
many policy recommendations regarding Alaska Native Physical Health; 
Social/Cultural Issues and the Alcohol Crisis; Economic Issues and 
Rural Development; Alaska Native Education; and Self-Governance and 
Self-Determination. By enacting H.R. 3973, Congress will provide Alaska 
Natives with a process to determine the most appropriate means to 
implement the findings of the Commission. I would like to commend the 
hard work of my colleagues from Alaska, Senator Murkowski and Senator 
Stevens, on this important legislation.
  This bill is noncontroversial and is widely supported by both the 
Alaska Native communities and the Administration for Native Americans 
within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I urge my 
colleagues to support passage of H.R. 3973.
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Madam President, I rise today to express my strong 
support for passage of the Alaska Native Commission study bill. This 
legislation is the product of years of study and candid self-appraisal 
by Alaska Natives about their standard of living conditions and the 
need to address these problems. While this self-appraisal has been 
exhaustive, it has not been pessimistic. On the contrary, the study is 
evidence of an exciting time for Alaska Natives, for they are taking 
the initiative to work to improve their standard and way of life. Their 
efforts will lead to a strengthening of their livelihoods and their 
pride in being both Alaska Natives and American citizens. I am proud 
that this bill will be part of that process.
  In 1989, Congressman Young and I introduced a bill that became Public 
Law 101-379. Public Law 101-379 established the Joint Federal-State 
Commission on Policies and Programs Affecting Alaska Natives, better 
known as the Alaska Natives Commission. Among its many recommendations, 
the Commission called for Federal funding to examine how best to 
implement the recommendations of the Commission. The purpose of this 
bill is to establish the funding, in the amount of $350,000, for such a 
study.
  From the beginning, the efforts of the commission have involved 
cooperation from both the Federal and Alaska State governments, and I 
am pleased to announce that this process will continue. The Commission 
was jointly funded by the Alaska State and Federal governments. Half of 
the 14 Commission members were appointed by the President, and half by 
the Governor. The Alaska congressional delegation and the Alaska 
Federation of Natives have already worked with State government 
representatives throughout this past summer to discuss ways to 
implement some of the findings of the Commission. I call on the State 
to stay active in the implementation process, and to assist the 
effectiveness of the study by appropriating additional funds to operate 
the study. I am confident that through the active participation of all 
interested parties, the study will lead to realistic and effective 
recommendations for implementation of the Commission's recommendations.
  I thank my colleagues Congressman Young for getting this bill passed 
by the House of Representatives, Indian Affairs Committee Chairman, 
Senator McCain for moving the bill through the Senate expeditiously, 
and Senator Stevens for securing the appropriations to fund this bill.
  Mr. NICKLES. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill 
be deemed read the third time, and passed, the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill 
appear at this point in the Record.
  The bill (H.R. 3973) was deemed read the third time, and passed.

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