[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 140 (Thursday, October 9, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10791-S10792]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. MURKOWSKI (for himself and Mr. Campbell):
  S. 1281. A bill to amend the Indian Employment, Training and Related 
Services Demonstration Act of 1992 to provide for the transfer of 
services and personnel from the Bureau of Indian Affairs to the Office 
of Self-Governance, to facilitate the creation of employment 
opportunities for American Indians and Alaska Natives, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Indian Affairs.


      the indian employment and training improvements act of 1997

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Indian 
Employment and Training Improvements Act of 1997, making technical 
amendments to the Indian Job Training and Consolidation Act of 1992. I 
was an original cosponsor of this law because I saw a need to reduce 
unnecessary, repetitive administrative costs in job development 
programs geared toward American Indians and Alaska Natives.
  I am glad to say that after only a few years, it is clear that this 
program is working. Alaska tribal groups tell me that they have 
reported great savings in administering employment and training 
programs through consolidation of application and reporting 
requirements. The Cook inlet Tribal Corporation in Alaska alone reports 
a near tripling of jobs in the Anchorage area since the passage of this 
act, from 500 to nearly 1,500 jobs. The Aleutian Pribiloffs Island 
Association, the Bristol Bay Native Association, Tlingit-Haida Indian 
Tibes in southeast Alaska, and Kawerak corporation in Norton Sound all 
report satisfaction with this program. I thank these Alaska Native 
groups for working with my staff to complete these amendments.
  I would also like to thank Senator Campbell for his work on this 
issue and for introducing his fine bill. I look forward to combining 
the best aspects of our bills at a mark-up to be held later this year. 
I appreciate his sensitivity to Alaska-specific concerns on this and 
other Indian Affairs issues.
  Mr. President, my bill would make several technical corrections that 
would encourage more tribes to take advantage of this demonstration. 
Let me highlight a few of these changes. First, it would establish the 
Office of Self Governance as the lead agency, replacing the Bureau of 
Indian Affairs. This change is needed because the BIA has shown 
resistance to allowing two of its programs to be included in the 
program: the Johnson O'Malley education program and general assistance 
dollars. The Office of Self governance, in contrast, has shown itself 
to be an effective administration in working with tribes to meet their 
needs.
  Second, it would allow the regional non-profit corporations in Alaska 
to act on behalf of the tribes, without having specific authorizing 
resolutions on the exact subject at hand, though the tribes could 
always object and opt out of the regional's actions. Third, it

[[Page S10792]]

would enable tribes to establish one consolidated advisory committee to 
encompass all the advisory councils currently required by the programs 
that are included in the demonstration.
  All these changes will allow the participating tribes to get more out 
of the Indian Job Training and consolidation Act by enabling them to 
better tailor their programs for their individual needs and by reducing 
regulatory barriers to efficient consolidation of Indian job training 
programs.
  Mr. President, the drop-out rate from college of Alaska Native kids 
in the Anchorage area is usually between 80-90 percent. We need to 
provide these young Alaskans with both educational and job skills so 
they can fully participate in Alaska's economy. The technical 
amendments I am introducing today will lead to further economic growth 
and more efficient use of Indian job training dollars. I urge my 
colleagues to support these amendments.
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