[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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