[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 157 (Sunday, November 9, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12425-S12426]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 DISTRIBUTION OF JUDGMENT FUNDS OF THE OTTAWA AND CHIPPEWA INDIANS OF 
                                MICHIGAN

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 1604 just received from 
the House.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 1604) to provide for the division, use, and 
     distribution of judgment funds of the Ottawa and Chippewa 
     Indians of Michigan, pursuant to dockets 18-E, 58, 364, and 
     18-R before the Indian Claims Commission.


                 Amendments Nos. 1625 and 1627, en Bloc

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I send two amendments, en bloc, to the 
desk on behalf of Mr. Murkowski and Mr. Inouye and ask for their 
immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Alabama [Mr. Sessions], for Mr. Murkowski 
     and Mr. Inouye, proposes amendments numbered 1625 and 1627, 
     en bloc.

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that further 
reading of the amendments be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendments are as follows:


                           AMENDMENT NO. 1625

  (Purpose: To limit the number of health care contracts and compacts 
 that the Indian Health Service may execute for the Ketchikan Gateway 
                                Borough)

       At the appropriate place, insert:

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) the execution of more than 1 contract or compact 
     between an Alaska native village or regional or village 
     corporation in the Ketchikan Gateway Borough and the 
     Secretary to provide for health care services in an area with 
     a small population leads to duplicative and wasteful 
     administrative costs; and
       (2) incurring the wasteful costs referred to in paragraph 
     (1) leads to decrease in the quality of health care that is 
     provided to Alaska Natives in an affected area.

     SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Alaska native.--The term ``Alaska Native'' has the 
     meaning given the term ``Native'' in section 3(b) of the 
     Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602(b)).
       (2) Alaska native village or regional or village 
     corporation.--The term ``Alaska native village or regional or 
     village corporation'' means an Alaska native village or 
     regional or village corporation defined in, or established 
     pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 
     U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).
       (3) Contract; compact.--The terms ``contract'' and 
     ``compact'' mean a self-determination contract and a self-
     governance compact as these terms are defined in the Indian 
     Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
     450 et. seq.).
       (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Health and Human Services.

     SEC. 3. LIMITATION.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall take such action as 
     may be necessary to ensure that, in considering a renewal of 
     a contract or compact, or signing of a new contract or 
     compact for the provision of health care services in the 
     Ketchikan Gateway Borough, there will be only one contract or 
     compact in effect.
       (b) Consideration.--In any case in which the Secretary, 
     acting though the Director of the Indian Health Service, is 
     required to select from more than 1 application for a 
     contract or compact described in subsection (a), in awarding 
     the contract or compact, the Secretary shall take into 
     consideration--
       (1) the ability and experience of the applicant;
       (2) the potential for the applicant to acquire and develop 
     the necessary ability; and
       (3) the potential for growth in the health care needs of 
     the covered borough.


                           AMENDMENT NO. 1627

(Purpose: To provide for a technical correction to Section 2 concerning 
                         the Sault Ste. Marie)

       On page 2, line 7, of Section 2, delete the word ``Tribe'' 
     and insert the word ``Band''.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the amendments, 
en bloc.
  The amendments (Nos. 1625 and 1627) were agreed to.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill, 
as amended, be considered read the third time, and passed, the motion 
to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating 
to the bill be placed in the Record at the appropriate place.

[[Page S12426]]

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 1604), as amended, was considered read the third time, 
and passed.

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