[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 71 (Friday, June 9, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E965]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


NATIVE NATIONS INSTITUTE FOR LEADERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, AND POLICY ACT OF 
                                  2000

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 9, 2000

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
introduce legislation to establish the Native Nations Institute for 
Leadership, Management, and Policy (NNI). I am pleased to be joined by 
the Chairman of the Resources Committee Mr. Young and a number of our 
colleagues.
  The Native Nations Institute for Leadership, Management and Policy 
will provide an essential and comprehensive training program for 
American Indian leaders so that present and future generations of 
tribal leaders will have access to necessary management and policy 
decision making skills.
  The Native Nations Institute will be based at the University of 
Arizona and be under the leadership and guidance of the Udall Center 
for Studies in Public Policy. The Udall Center will take on primary 
responsibility for the implementation of NNI's programs while the Board 
of Trustees of the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in 
National Environmental Policy Foundation (established by Public Law 
102-259) will approve NNI's annual budget and manage any federal 
appropriations. The governing committee of NNI will be comprised of 
individuals from the Morris K. Udall Foundation, the Udall Center, 
representatives from Indian Nations, and representatives from other 
academic groups directly involved in NNI's projects.
  The Native Nations Institute will empower Native American leaders by 
providing a comprehensive program that focuses on (1) leadership and 
management training and (2) policy analysis. The leadership and 
management training program has six components that will (a) provide 
for the current educational needs of the senior leaders and managers of 
Indian Nations, (b) provide a distance learning program that reaches a 
broad reservation audience, and (c) provide a Master's degree in Public 
Administration focused on tribal governance and designed for mid-career 
individuals and students who are seeking careers in tribal government. 
In addition, the leadership and management program will (d) create an 
alliance with tribal colleges that provide curricular materials, 
program cooperation, and assistance in meeting the educational needs of 
Indian reservations, (e) provide a nine month Washington DC internship 
program focusing on federal government, and (f) create a curriculum 
development program designed for NNI and for other educational 
institutions working in Indian country All of the components in the 
leadership and management program will share a common focus--they will 
enable skills such as nation-building, strategic planning and policy 
making, administration and management, and external relations to be 
developed and strengthened. As policy makers ourselves, we can do no 
greater service to Indian tribes than to provide them with 
opportunities to help strengthen their governments.
  Policy analysis, the second program at the NNI, will address 
contemporary issues facing tribal governments including economic 
development, solving intricate social problems, interacting with other 
governments, and managing natural resources. NNI will perform policy 
research grounded in Indian country to address these issues and will 
use this research in the leadership and management training program by 
providing data, case studies, and analysis for the program's students.
  By providing indigenous people customized educational experiences in 
policy and management, we will continue to move toward the policy goal 
of self-determination for Indian tribes. I urge my colleagues to 
recognize and to continue to fulfill our obligation to Indian Nations 
by supporting the Native Nations Institute for Leadership, Management, 
and Policy Act of 2000.

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