[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 141 (Friday, October 9, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H10286-H10287]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            NATIVE AMERICAN PROGRAMS ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1997

  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Education and the Workforce be discharged from further consideration 
of the Senate bill (S. 459) to amend the Native American Programs Act 
of 1974 to extend certain authorizations, and for other purposes, and 
ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the Senate bill, as follows:

                                 S. 459

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Native American Programs Act 
     Amendments of 1997''.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATIONS OF CERTAIN APPROPRIATIONS UNDER THE 
                   NATIVE AMERICAN PROGRAMS ACT OF 1974.

       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, and 1999.'';
       (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, and 1999,''; 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 each of fiscal years 1997, 1998, and 
     1999.''.

     SEC. 3. NATIVE HAWAIIAN REVOLVING LOAN FUND.

       (a) In General.--Section 803A of the Native American 
     Programs Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 2991b-1) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(1)--
       (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)--
       (i) by striking ``award grants'' and inserting ``award a 
     grant''; and
       (ii) by striking ``use such grants to establish and carry 
     out'' and inserting ``use that grant to carry out''; and
       (B) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``or loan 
     guarantees'' after ``make loans'';

[[Page H10287]]

       (2) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``loans to a borrower'' 
     and inserting ``a loan or loan guarantee to a borrower''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
     ``Loans made'' and inserting ``Each loan or loan guarantee 
     made'';
       (ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``5 years'' and 
     inserting ``7 years''; and
       (iii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``that is 2 
     percentage'' and all that follows through the end of the 
     subparagraph and inserting ``that does not exceed a rate 
     equal to the sum of--

       ``(I) the most recently published prime rate (as published 
     in the newspapers of general circulation in the State of 
     Hawaii before the date on which the loan is made); and
       ``(II) 3 percentage points.''; and

       (3) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ``for each of the 
     fiscal years 1992, 1993, and 1994, $1,000,000'' and inserting 
     ``for the first full fiscal year, beginning after the date of 
     enactment of the Native American Programs Act Amendments of 
     1997, such sums as may be necessary''.

                   Amendments Offered By Mr. Goodling

  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I offer several amendments.
  The Clerk read as follows:
  Amendments offered by Mr. Goodling:
       On page 2, line 3, strike out ``1997'' and ``1998'' and 
     insert after 1999, ``2000, 2001, and 2002''.
       On page 2, line 7, strike out ``1997'' and ``1998'' and 
     insert after 1999, ``2000, 2001, and 2002''.
       On page 2, line 13, strike out ``1997'' and ``1998'' and 
     insert after 1999, ``2000, 2001, and 2002''
       On page 4, line 4, strike out ``for each of the fiscal 
     years''.
       On page 4, line 5, strike out ``$1,000,000''.
       On page 4, line 6, strike out ``for the first fiscal year 
     and all that follows through line 9.
       On page 4, line 5, after ``inserting'', insert ``2000 and 
     2001.''
  Mr. GOODLING (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent that the amendments be considered as read and printed in the 
Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Goodling) is recognized for 1 hour..
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 459, the Native American Programs Act Amendments of 
1997, would continue the important programs operated under the Native 
American Programs Act. This Act promotes social and economic self-
sufficiency among Indian tribes.
  Grants under the Act have been used to assist tribes, develop 
government infrastructure, establish tax, zoning and corporation codes, 
and provide the regulatory frameworks necessary to attract and retain 
outside capital investment. In addition to extending these programs 
through the years 2002, it amends provisions for a Native Hawaiian 
Revolving Loan Fund to make it self-sufficient and eliminate the need 
for further appropriations.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Martinez).
  Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, I am in support of the amendment and find 
no problem with it
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Hawaii (Mrs. Mink).
  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 459, 
the Native American Programs Act.
  Authorization for this act expired in 1996, and we were unable to 
bring an authorization bill to the floor in the last Congress, so I am 
pleased that we have agreement today and can extend these programs for 
the next 4 fiscal years.
  The Native American Programs Act provides funds to American Indians, 
Alaskan Natives, Native Hawaiians and other Native American Pacific 
Islanders for projects which help achieve social and economic self-
sufficiency among these populations.
  We provide about $34.8 million each year for the Native American 
Programs Act. This assistance provided since 1974 has been critical in 
helping tribes to establish their governmental and legal systems and 
develop environmental and land use policies. It has helped to address 
the social needs among Native American communities and has increased 
economic development, job creation and business expansion.
  It has also funded projects to preserve the languages of our Native 
Americans that are in danger of being lost forever. The strength of 
this program is that each project funded by this act is a community-
based effort in which the ideas for solutions of community problems 
comes from the people themselves.
  One such project which is funded under this act is the Native 
Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund, which provides low interest loans to 
native Hawaiians for business creation or expansion.
  Originally a demonstration project, the loan fund was developed into 
an important source of capital for native Hawaiian-run businesses, most 
of which are small businesses. The loans have funded a wide variety of 
projects, including agribusiness, construction, retail, tourism, 
trucking, automotive shops, restaurants, and food outlets.
  Access to capital is a real problem for native Hawaiian 
entrepreneurs. The loan fund has helped to develop viable businesses in 
our community, create jobs, and contribute to our economy. To date, 
$13.8 million has been given out in loans to 308 businesses.
  Documentation provided by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, which 
administers the loan fund, shows that almost 1,000 jobs have been 
created as a direct result of businesses started and expanded through 
the loan fund.
  S. 459 will authorize the revolving loan fund through the year 2001, 
and make important changes to the loan fund which will help the fund 
achieve self-sufficiency, so it will no longer need annual Federal 
funding to sustain itself.
  I appreciate the work of the chairman, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling) and his staff in working out an agreement 
on this Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund. This agreement will help 
assure that the loan fund will become self-sufficient and truly 
revolving in nature, without the need of further assistance from the 
Federal government.
  I urge my colleagues to support S. 459 and these important programs 
that assist our Native American communities.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the amendments offered by 
the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling).
  The amendments were agreed to.
  The Senate bill was ordered to be read a third time, was read the 
third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

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