[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 114 (Thursday, August 5, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1753]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF A BILL TO EXPAND ALASKA NATIVE CONTRACTING OF FEDERAL 
                            LAND MANAGEMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DON YOUNG

                               of akaska

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 5, 1999

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce a bill to 
expand Alaska Native contracting of Federal land management functions 
and activities and, promote hiring of Alaska Natives by the federal 
government within the State of Alaska.
  This bill was developed in response to my request to the Alaska 
Federal of Natives at their retreat in August of 1998. Pursuant to the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, tribes are 
authorized to enter into contracts with the Department of the Interior 
to directly administer programs previously administered by that agency. 
Congress strongly advocated this change to allow tribes to provide 
direct and improved services to their members.
  The bill entitled ``Alaska Federal Lands Management Demonstration 
Project'' would direct the Secretary of the Interior to enter into a 
demonstration project in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 with no less than 
six eligible Alaska Native tribes or tribal organizations to manage a 
conservation unit or other public land unit within the closest 
proximity of that tribal organization.
  The bill further directs the Secretary to fully fund these 
demonstration projects in the same manner he would have funded the 
programs if they were still being managed by the Department of the 
Interior.
  It has always been my strong belief that Alaska Natives can manage 
conservation units or national park systems units as well or even 
better than the federal government. Alaska Natives have demonstrated 
their reliance of the land, the conservation of its bounty and great 
respect for the cautious management of its resources to preserve for 
future generations. I believe that Alaska Natives should be given the 
opportunity to manage federal conservation units that are in close 
proximity to their own lands.
  The Alaska regional non-profits worked long and hard to carefully 
draft a bill which would have the support of the Alaska Federation of 
Natives and all of the Alaska regional non-profits. I believe it is 
time that we authorize Alaska Native entities to manage federal 
conservation units in the manner consistent with lands that they have 
carefully preserved and utilized for thousands of years. This bill does 
exactly that.

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