[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 35 (Tuesday, March 18, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2427-S2429]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

       By Mr. CAMPBELL (for himself, Mr. McCain, Mr. Domenici, Mr. 
     Murkowski, and Mr. Inouye):
  S. 459. A bill to amend the Native American Programs Act of 1974 to 
extend certain authorizations, and for other purposes; to the Committee 
on Indian Affairs.


  THE NATIVE AMERICAN PROGRAMS ACT OF 1974 REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1997

  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce a bill to 
extend the authorization for certain programs under the Native American 
Programs Act of 1974. This bill is critical to continue the 
availability of a modest amount of grant funds used by native 
communities nationwide to foster economic growth, develop tools for 
good governance methods, and promote social welfare.
  The authorization for most of these programs has expired and though 
the administration has requested funding for fiscal year 1998 at fiscal 
year 1997 levels, it has not introduced legislation to reauthorize the 
act. The legislation I am introducing today would do just that.
  These programs are administered through the Administration for Native 
Americans [ANA] located within the Department of Health and Human 
Services. By awarding annual grants on a competitive basis, the Native 
American Programs Act promotes self-sufficiency and self-determination 
by encouraging tribes, villages, and other native communities to 
develop and plan local strategies in economic and social development. 
The program is designed to build greater capacity at the tribal level 
for better governance, more vibrant and diversified economies, and 
social development.
  The ANA Program has proven successful for native communities since 
its inception and has generated widespread support by America's native 
communities. The centerpiece of the program are grants made under the 
Social and Economic Development Strategies (SEDS) Program; grants to 
tribes enhance tribal environmental regulatory capabilities; and grants 
made to preserve and rehabilitate native languages.
  This legislation will simply extend for 4 years until fiscal year 
2000 the authorization for these modestly funded yet very successful 
programs to strengthen and rebuild tribal communities around the United 
States.
  I urge my colleagues to join with me in enacting this reauthorization 
so that these proven tools for development can again be made available 
to native peoples around the Nation. I ask unanimous consent that a 
section-by-section summary and the bill language be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                             BILL LANGUAGE

     SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF CERTAIN APPROPRIATIONS UNDER THE 
                   NATIVE AMERICAN PROGRAMS ACT OF 1974.

       Section 816.--Section 816 of the Native American Programs 
     Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 2992d) is amended--

       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``for fiscal years 1992, 
     1993, 1994, and 1995.'' and inserting ``for each of fiscal 
     years 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000'';
       (2) in subsection (c), by striking ``for each of the fiscal 
     years 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1996,'' and inserting ``for 
     each of fiscal years 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000,''; and
       (3) in subsection (e), by striking ``$2,000,000 for fiscal 
     year 1993 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 
     1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997.'' and inserting ``such sums as 
     may be necessary for fiscal years 1997, 1998, 1999, and 
     2000.''
                                                                    ____


                      Section-by-Section Analysis

       The purpose of this bill is to amend the 1974 Native 
     American Programs Act, P.L. 93-644 (42 U.S.C. 2991 et seq.) 
     to extend to fiscal year 2000 the authorization of 
     appropriations for three grant programs administered by the 
     Administration for Native Americans (ANA) in the Department 
     of Health and Human Services (HHS).
       Section 1. Authorization of Certain Appropriations Under 
     the Native American Programs Act of 1974.
  Section 816.--

       (a) this subsection provides for a four year extension to 
     fiscal year 2000 of the present authority to appropriate such 
     sums as may be necessary to carry out the general grant 
     provisions of the Native American Programs Act of 1974 (42 
     U.S.C. 2992d). The bill would continue the current ``such 
     sums as may be necessary'' language contained in current law.
       (c) this subsection provides for a four year extension to 
     fiscal year 2000 of the present authority to appropriate 
     funds for the purpose of carrying out the provisions related 
     to grants for tribal regulation of environmental quality (42 
     U.S.C. Sec. 2991b(d). The bill would continue the current 
     authorized level of $8 million for such grants.
       (e) this subsection provides for a four year extension to 
     fiscal year 2000 of the present authority to appropriate such 
     sums as may be necessary for the purpose of carrying out the 
     provisions related to grants for the preservation of Native 
     languages (42 U.S.C. Sec. 2991b-3). The bill would strike the 
     current authorized appropriaitons level of $2 million for 
     Native language grants and instead would substitute ``such 
     sums as may be necessary''.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I am pleased to join my colleagues 
Senators Campbell, McCain, and Murkowski in sponsoring this act to 
extend the authorization of several important programs for American 
Indians. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [HHS] 
administers these programs through the Administration for Native 
Americans [ANA]. Over the past 5 years, funding has ranged from $34.5 
million to $38.6 million. In fiscal year 1997, the funding was $34.9 
million.
  Our bill will reauthorize important programs to promote economic 
development, strengthen tribal governments, and provide for the better 
coordination of social programs available to tribes. The ANA funding 
policy is to assist Indian Tribes and Native American organizations to 
plan and implement their own long-term strategies for social and 
economic development. The aim is to increase local productivity and 
reduce dependence on government social services.
  Competitive grants are the means for distributing these vital funds. 
In New Mexico, the Pueblos of Laguna ($382,000), Picuris ($167,000), 
Pojoaque ($120,000), Sandia ($133,890), Tesuque ($125,000), San Juan 
($232,000), Santa Ana ($112,000), and Santo Domingo ($110,464) all 
received grants from fiscal year 1996 funds. New Mexico Tribes and 
Pueblos have participated in ANA grant activity for about three 
decades.
  The Social and Economic Development Strategies [SEDS] program fosters 
the development of stable, diversified local economies. SEDS grant 
funds are used to develop the physical, commercial, industrial and/or 
agricultural components necessary for a functioning local economy. 
Social infrastructure includes the maintenance of a tribe's cultural 
integrity. Pojoaque Pueblo's Cultural Center is the beneficiary of an 
ANA grant.
  Other ANA grants are used to establish or expand business activity or 
to stabilize and diversify a tribe's economic base. Micro enterprises 
and other private sector development are encouraged.
  Mr. President, I thank Chairman Campbell of the Senate Committee on 
Indian Affairs for his good work to extend the authorization for these 
valuable resources to improve tribal opportunities for self-
sufficiency. I urge my colleagues to support the reauthorization of 
these Administration for Native Americans Programs.
  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I rise today to cosponsor a measure to 
reauthorize the Native American Programs Act of 1974. The purpose of 
this bill is to amend the Native American Programs Act to extend the 
authorization of appropriations for programs administered by the 
administration for Native Americans within the Department of Health and 
Human Services to fiscal year 2000.
  In 1974, the Native American Programs Act was enacted by the Congress 
to assist tribes and other Native American entities with developing 
social, economic, and governance strategies in order to become viable 
and economically self-sufficient communities.
  In the decades since its enactment, hundreds of tribes, reservation 
communities, and native organizations have benefited from the programs 
funded under this act. In fiscal year 1994 alone, the administration 
for Native Americans provided 215 grants for governance, social, and 
economic development projects, several dozen grants to assist with 
tribal recognition efforts, 26 grants for projects to assist tribes in 
their capacity to meet environmental requirements, 18 grants to support 
projects assisting the survival and preservation of Native American 
languages, and funds to support the Native Hawaiian revolving loan 
fund.

[[Page S2429]]

These projects have served to improve the quality of living for 
thousands of Native American families and communities.
  Over 2 years ago, on March 7, 1995, Senators McCain, Campbell and I 
introduced S. 510, a bill which reauthorized programs under the Native 
American Programs Act. On May 11, 1996 this body passed S. 510, as 
amended in committee, by unanimous consent, but the bill was 
subsequently not acted upon by the House prior to the adjournment of 
the 104th Congress.
  The bill being introduced today is substantially similar to S. 510, 
as introduced in the last Congress. I am pleased that once again, the 
chairman, as his predecessor did, is willing to consider the inclusion 
of provisions that would reauthorize for a period of 1 year, the Native 
Hawaiian revolving loan fund.
  Mr. President, the programs authorized in this measure are critical 
to fostering Native American social and economic self-sufficiency--a 
goal shared by this Congress as we move toward greater fiscal 
responsibility.
  I urge my colleagues to act favorably and expeditiously on this 
measure.
                                 ______