[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 80 (Thursday, June 18, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1162]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 A BILL TO AMEND THE INDIAN EMPLOYMENT, TRAINING AND RELATED SERVICES 
                       DEMONSTRATION ACT OF 1992

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DON YOUNG

                               of alaska

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 18, 1998

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce 
legislation to amend the Indian Employment, Training and Related 
Services Demonstration Act of 1992. My legislation will provide for the 
transfer of services and personnel from the Bureau of Indian Affairs to 
the Office of Self-Governance and to emphasize the need for job 
creation in Alaska native communities and on Indian reservations.
  Since its enactment in 1992, the ``477'' program of the Indian 
Employment, Training and Related Services Demonstration Act, has become 
one of the few successful economic development programs in Indian 
country. This program was implemented to help tribes address severe 
problems in employment and poverty faced in their communities. It 
allows tribal governments to consolidate formula funded employment, 
training and related programs into one streamlined, efficient program, 
which enable tribes to reduce administrative time and costs, and 
increase services to their members. Alaska tribes have informed me that 
they have reported great savings in administering employment and 
training programs through consolidation of application and reporting 
requirements.
  On October 9, 1997, Senator Campbell introduced S. 1279 and on this 
same date, Senator Murkowski introduced S. 1281, which proposed 
amendments to the ``477'' program, and included Alaska-specific 
provisions. On May 14, 1998, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs 
held a committee oversight hearing to discuss the program of the 
program. S. 1279, as amended, incorporates several provisions of S. 
1281, and makes other technical corrections. The Senate Indian Affairs 
Committee held a mark-up of their two bills and favorably reported S. 
1279 out of Committee.
  My legislation is identical to S. 1279, as reported out of committee, 
and would at long last address the extreme unemployment in Alaska 
native communities and to provide young Alaska natives with both 
educational and job skills so they can fully participate and contribute 
to Alaska's economy. The bill 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 my bill

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