[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 69 (Wednesday, June 7, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4670-S4672]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. INOUYE (for himself, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Dodd, Mr. 
        Kennedy, Mrs. Murray, and Mr. Schumer):
  S. 2688. A bill to amend the Native American Languages Act to provide 
for the support of Native American Language Survival Schools, and for 
other purposes.


          native american languages act amendments act of 2000

 Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill to 
amend the Native American Languages Act to provide authority for the 
establishment of Native American Language Survival Schools. I am joined 
in co-sponsorship by Senators Akaka, Cochran, Dodd, Kennedy, Murray and 
Schumer.
  Mr. President, for hundreds of years, beginning with the arrival of 
European settlers on America's shores, the native peoples of America 
have had to fight for the survival of their cultures. History has shown 
that the ability to maintain and preserve the culture and traditions of 
a people is directly tied to the perpetuation of native languages. Like 
others, the traditional languages of Native American people are an 
integral part of their culture and identity. They provide the means for 
passing down to each new generation the stories, customs, religion, 
history and traditional ways of life. To lose the diversity and vibrant 
history of many Indian nations, is to lose a vital part of the history 
of this country.
  Mr. President, Native American languages are near extinction in the 
United States. Studies suggest that at one time several thousand 
distinct Indian languages existed in what is now America. Today that 
number has dwindled to approximately 155 Indian languages. Of these 155 
languages remaining, 45 are only spoken by elders, 60 are spoken only 
by middle-aged adults or older adults, 30 are spoken by all adults but 
not children, and only 20 Native languages are spoken by most of the 
children. With so many Native communities facing the loss of their 
languages as elderly native speakers pass on before the language can be 
taught to younger generations, it is little wonder that this tragedy is 
growing exponentially, day by day.
  In the 1880s, as part of the United States' forced assimilation 
policies towards Native Americans, a system of off-reservation boarding 
schools was initiated. Native American children were forcibly taken 
from their families, transported hundreds of miles to schools where 
their hair was cut notwithstanding the religious importance of hair 
length in most native cultures, their clothes replaced with military-
style uniforms, and they were forbidden to speak their native languages 
or practice their religion. Although this effort to eradicate Indian 
culture was not successful, it did separate several generations of 
Native Americans from their native languages.
  The Native American Languages Act of 1990 officially repudiated the 
policies of the past and declared that ``it is the policy of the United 
States to preserve, protect, and promote the rights and freedom of 
Native Americans to use, practice, and develop Native American 
languages.'' The Act was amended in 1992 to provide financial support 
to Native American language projects.
  Mr. President, this bill would bring the nation one step closer to 
assuring the preservation and revitalization of Native American 
languages by supporting the development of Native American Language 
Survival Schools. These schools would provide a complete education 
through the use of both Native American languages and English. The bill 
also provides support for Native American Language Nests, which are 
Native American language immersion programs for children aged six and 
under. In addition, the bill provides authority for the following 
activities: curriculum development, teacher, staff and community 
resource development, rental, lease, purchase, construction, 
maintenance or repair of educational facilities, and the establishment 
of two Native American Language School support centers at the Native 
Language College of the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and the Alaska 
Native Language Center of the University of Alaska at Fairbanks.
  Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation to 
assist the Native people of America in their efforts to reverse the 
effects of past Federal policies by reintroducing today's children to 
their Native languages and preserving Native languages for the 
generations to come.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2688

       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 Languages 
     Act Amendments Act of 2000''.

     SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

       The purposes of this Act are to--
       (1) encourage and support the development of Native 
     American Language Survival Schools as innovative means of 
     addressing the effects of past discrimination against Native 
     American language speakers and to support the revitalization 
     of such languages

[[Page S4671]]

     through education in Native American languages and through 
     instruction in other academic subjects using Native American 
     languages as an instructional medium, consistent with United 
     States' policy as expressed in the Native American Languages 
     Act (25 U.S.C. 2901 et seq.);
       (2) encourage and support the involvement of families in 
     the educational and cultural survival efforts of Native 
     American Language Survival Schools;
       (3) encourage communication, cooperation, and educational 
     exchange among Native American Language Survival Schools and 
     their administrators;
       (4) provide support for Native American Language Survival 
     School facilities and endowments;
       (5) provide support for Native American Language Nests 
     either as part of Native American Language Survival Schools 
     or as separate programs that will be developed into more 
     comprehensive Native American Language Survival Schools;
       (6) support the development of local and national models 
     that can be disseminated to the public and made available to 
     other schools as exemplary methods of teaching Native 
     American students; and
       (7) develop a support center system for Native American 
     Survival Schools at the university level.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       Section 103 of Public Law 101-477 (25 U.S.C. 2902) is 
     amended to read as follows:


                             ``definitions

       ``In this Act:
       ``(1) Indian.--The term `Indian' has the meaning given that 
     term in section 9161 of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7881).
       ``(2) Indian tribal government.--The term `Indian tribal 
     government' has the meaning given that term in section 502 of 
     Public Law 95-134 (42 U.S.C. 4368b).
       ``(3) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian tribe' has the 
     meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
     Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).
       ``(4) Indian reservation.--The term `Indian reservation' 
     has the meaning given the term `reservation' in section 3 of 
     the Indian Financing Act of 1974 (25 U.S.C. 1452).
       ``(5) Native american.--The term `Native American' means an 
     Indian, Native Hawaiian, or Native American Pacific Islander.
       ``(6) Native american language.--The term `Native American 
     language' means the historical, traditional languages spoken 
     by Native Americans.
       ``(7) Native american language college.--The term `Native 
     American Language College' means--
       ``(A) a tribally-controlled community college or university 
     (as defined in section 2 of the Tribally-Controlled Community 
     College or University Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 
     1801));
       ``(B) Ka Haka `Ula 0 Ke'elikolani College; or
       ``(C) a college applying for a Native American Language 
     Survival School in a Native American language which that 
     college regularly offers as part of its curriculum and which 
     has the support of an Indian tribal government traditionally 
     affiliated with that Native American language.
       ``(8) Native american language educational organization.--
     The term `Native American Language Educational Organization' 
     means an organization that--
       ``(A) is governed by a board consisting of speakers of 1 or 
     more Native American languages;
       ``(B) is currently providing instruction through the use of 
     a Native American language for not less than 10 students for 
     at least 700 hours of instruction per year; and
       ``(C) has provided such instruction for at least 10 
     students annually through a Native American language for at 
     least 700 hours per year for not less than 3 years prior to 
     applying for a grant under this Act.
       ``(9) Native american language nest.--The term `Native 
     American Language Nest' means a site-based educational 
     program enrolling families with children aged 6 and under 
     which is conducted through a Native American language for not 
     less than 20 hours per week and not less than 35 weeks per 
     year with the specific goal of strengthening, revitalizing, 
     or re-establishing a Native American language and culture as 
     a living language and culture of daily life.
       ``(10) Native american language survival school.--The term 
     `Native American Language Survival School' means a Native 
     American language dominant site-based educational program 
     which expands from a Native American Language Nest, either as 
     a separate entity or inclusive of a Native American Language 
     Nest, to enroll families with children eligible for 
     elementary or secondary education and which provides a 
     complete education through a Native American language with 
     the specific goal of strengthening, revitalizing, or 
     reestablishing a Native American language and culture as a 
     living language and culture of daily life.
       ``(11) Native american pacific islander.--The term `Native 
     American Pacific Islander' means any descendant of the 
     aboriginal people of any island in the Pacific Ocean that is 
     a territory or possession of the United States.
       ``(12) Native hawaiian.--The term `Native Hawaiian' has the 
     meaning given that term in section 9212 of the Elementary and 
     Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7912).
       ``(13) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
     of the Department of Education.
       ``(14) Traditional leaders.--The term `traditional leaders' 
     includes Native Americans who have special expertise in 
     Native American culture and Native American languages.
       ``(15) Tribal organization.--The term `tribal organization' 
     has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian 
     Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
     450b).''.

     SEC. 4. NATIVE AMERICAN LANGUAGE SURVIVAL SCHOOLS.

       Title I of Public Law 101-477 (25 U.S.C. 2901 et seq.) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new sections:


                          ``general authority

       ``Sec. 108. (a) In General.--The Secretary is authorized to 
     provide funds, through grant or contract, to Native American 
     Language Educational Organizations, Native American Language 
     Colleges, Indian tribal governments, or a consortia of such 
     organizations, colleges, or tribal governments to operate, 
     expand, and increase Native American Language Survival 
     Schools throughout the United States and its territories for 
     Native American children and Native American language-
     speaking children.
       ``(b) Eligibility.--As a condition of receiving funds under 
     subsection (a), a Native American Language Educational 
     Organization, a Native American Language College, an Indian 
     tribal government, or a consortia of such organizations, 
     colleges, or tribal governments--
       ``(1) shall--
       ``(A) have at least 3 years experience in operating and 
     administering a Native American Language Survival School, a 
     Native American Language Nest, or other educational programs 
     in which instruction is conducted in a Native American 
     language; and
       ``(B) include students who are subject to State compulsory 
     education laws; and
       ``(2) may include students from infancy through grade 12, 
     as well as their families.
       ``(c) Use of Funds.--
       ``(1) Required uses.--A Native American Language Survival 
     School receiving funds under this section shall--
       ``(A) consist of not less than 700 hours of instruction 
     conducted annually through a Native American language or 
     languages for at least 15 students who do not regularly 
     attend another school;
       ``(B) provide direct educational services and school 
     support services that may also include--
       ``(i) support services for children with special needs;
       ``(ii) transportation;
       ``(iii) boarding;
       ``(iv) food service;
       ``(v) teacher and staff housing;
       ``(vi) purchase of basic materials;
       ``(vii) adaptation of teaching materials;
       ``(viii) translation and development; or
       ``(ix) other appropriate services;
       ``(C) provide direct or indirect educational and support 
     services for the families of enrolled students on site, 
     through colleges, or through other means to increase their 
     knowledge and use of the Native American language and 
     culture, and may impose a requirement of family participation 
     as a condition of student enrollment; and
       ``(D) ensure that students who are not Native American 
     language speakers achieve fluency in a Native American 
     language within 3 years of enrollment.
       ``(2) Permissible uses.--A Native American Language 
     Survival School receiving funds under this section may--
       ``(A) include Native American Language Nests and other 
     educational programs for students who are not Native American 
     language speakers but who seek to establish fluency through 
     instruction in a Native American language or to re-establish 
     fluency as descendants of Native American language speakers;
       ``(B) include a program of concurrent and summer college or 
     university education course enrollment for secondary school 
     students enrolled in Native American Language Survival 
     Schools, as appropriate; and
       ``(C) provide special support for Native American languages 
     for which there are very few or no remaining Native American 
     language speakers.
       ``(d) Curriculum Development and Community Language Use 
     Development.--The Secretary is authorized to provide funds, 
     through grant or contract, to Native American Language 
     Educational Organizations, Native American Language Colleges, 
     Indian tribal governments, or a consortia of such 
     organizations, colleges, or tribal governments, for the 
     purpose of developing--
       ``(1) comprehensive curricula in Native American language 
     instruction and instruction through Native American 
     languages; and
       ``(2) community Native American language use in communities 
     served by Native American Language Survival Schools.
       ``(e) Teacher, Staff, and Community Resource Development.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to provide 
     funds, through grant or contract, to Native American Language 
     Educational Organizations, Native American Language Colleges, 
     Indian tribal governments, or a consortia of such 
     organizations, colleges, or tribal governments for the 
     purpose of providing programs in pre-service and in-service 
     teacher training, staff training, personnel development 
     programs, programs

[[Page S4672]]

     to upgrade teacher and staff skills, and community resource 
     development training, that shall include a program component 
     which has as its objective increased Native American language 
     speaking proficiency for teachers and staff employed in 
     Native American Language Survival Schools and Native American 
     Language Nests.
       ``(2) Program scope.--Programs funded under this subsection 
     may include--
       ``(A) visits or exchanges among Native American Language 
     Survival Schools and Native American Language Nests of school 
     or nest teachers, staff, students, or families of students;
       ``(B) participation in conference or special non-degree 
     programs focusing on the use of a Native American language or 
     languages for the education of students, teachers, staff, 
     students, or families of students;
       ``(C) full or partial scholarships and fellowships to 
     colleges or universities for the professional development of 
     faculty and staff, and to meet requirements for the 
     involvement of the family or the community of Native American 
     Language Survival School students in Native American Language 
     Survival Schools;
       ``(D) training in the language and culture associated with 
     a Native American Language Survival School either under 
     community or academic experts in programs which may include 
     credit courses;
       ``(E) structuring of personnel operations to support Native 
     American language and cultural fluency and program 
     effectiveness;
       ``(F) Native American language planning, documentation, 
     reference material and archives development; and
       ``(G) recruitment for participation in teacher, staff, 
     student, and community development.
       ``(3) Conditions of fellowships or scholarships.--A 
     recipient of a fellowship or scholarship awarded under the 
     authority of this subsection who is enrolled in a program 
     leading to a degree or certificate shall--
       ``(A) be trained in the Native American language of the 
     Native American Language Survival School, if such program is 
     available through that Native American language;
       ``(B) complete a minimum annual number of hours in Native 
     American language study or training during the period of the 
     fellowship or scholarship; and
       ``(C) enter into a contract which obligates the recipient 
     to provide his or her professional services, either during 
     the fellowship or scholarship period or upon completion of a 
     degree or certificate, in Native American language 
     instruction in the Native American language associated with 
     the Native American Language Survival School in which the 
     service obligation is to be fulfilled.
       ``(f) Endowment and Facilities.--The Secretary is 
     authorized to provide funds, through grant or contract, for 
     endowment funds and the rental, lease, purchase, 
     construction, maintenance, or repair of facilities for Native 
     American Language Survival Schools, to Native American 
     Language Educational Organizations, Native American Language 
     Colleges, and Indian tribal governments, or a consortia of 
     such organizations, colleges, or tribal governments that have 
     demonstrated excellence in the capacity to operate and 
     administer a Native American Language Survival School and to 
     ensure the academic achievement of Native American Language 
     Survival School students.


                    ``native american language nests

       ``Sec. 109. (a) In General.--The Secretary is authorized to 
     provide funds, through grant or contract, to Native American 
     Language Educational Organizations, Native American Language 
     Colleges, Indian tribal governments, and nonprofit 
     organizations that demonstrate the potential to become Native 
     American Language Educational Organizations, for the purpose 
     of establishing Native American Language Nest programs for 
     students from infancy to age 6 and their families.
       ``(b) Requirements.--A Native American Language Nest 
     program receiving funds under this section shall--
       ``(1) provide instruction and child care through the use of 
     a Native American language or a combination of the English 
     language and a Native American language for at least 10 
     children for at least 700 hours per year;
       ``(2) provide compulsory classes for parents of students 
     enrolled in a Native American Language Nest in a Native 
     American language, including Native American language-
     speaking parents;
       ``(3) provide compulsory monthly meetings for parents and 
     other family members of students enrolled in a Native 
     American Language Nest;
       ``(4) provide a preference in enrollment for students and 
     families who are fluent in a Native American language; and
       ``(5) receive at least 5 percent of its funding from 
     another source, which may included Federally-funded programs, 
     such as a Head Start program funded under the Head Start Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 9801 et seq.).


       ``demonstration programs regarding linguistics assistance

       ``Sec. 110. (a) Demonstration Programs.--The Secretary 
     shall provide funds, through grant or contract, for the 
     establishment of 2 demonstration programs that will provide 
     assistance to Native American Language Survival Schools and 
     Native American Language Nests. Such demonstration programs 
     shall be established at--
       ``(1) Ka Haka `Ula 0 Ke`elikolani College of the University 
     of Hawaii at Hilo, in consortium with the `Aha Punana Leo, 
     Inc., and with other entities if deemed appropriate by such 
     College, to--
       ``(A) conduct a demonstration program in the development of 
     the various components of a Native American Language Survival 
     School program, including the early childhood education 
     features of a Native American Nest component; and
       ``(B) provide assistance in the establishment, operation, 
     and administration of Native American Language Nests and 
     Native American Language Survival Schools by such means as 
     training, hosting informational visits to demonstration 
     sites, and providing relevant information, outreach courses, 
     conferences, and other means; and
       ``(2) the Alaska Native Language Center of the University 
     of Alaska at Fairbanks, in consortium with other entities as 
     deemed appropriate by such Center, to conduct a demonstration 
     program, training, outreach, conferences, visitation 
     programs, and other assistance in developing orthographies, 
     resource materials, language documentation, language 
     preservation, material archiving, and community support 
     development.
       ``(b) Use of Technology.--The demonstration programs 
     authorized to be established under this section may employ 
     synchronic and asynchronic telecommunications and other 
     appropriate means to maintain coordination and cooperation 
     with one another and with participating Native American 
     Language Survival Schools and Native American Language Nests.
       ``(c) Direction to the Secretary.--The demonstration 
     programs authorized to be established under this section 
     shall provide direction to the Secretary in developing a site 
     visit evaluation of Native American Language Survival Schools 
     and Native American Language Nests.
       ``(d) Endowments and Facilities.--The demonstration 
     programs authorized to be established under this section may 
     establish endowments for the purpose of furthering their 
     activities relative to the study and preservation of Native 
     American languages, and may use funds to provide for the 
     rental, lease, purchase, construction, maintenance, and 
     repair of facilities.


                   ``authorization of appropriations

       ``Sec. 111. There are authorized to be appropriated such 
     sums as may be necessary to carry out the activities 
     authorized by this Act for fiscal years 2001 through 
     2006.''.
                                 ______