[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 133 (Monday, October 23, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H10506-H10508]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    INDIAN TRIBAL JUSTICE TECHNICAL AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE ACT OF 2000

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the Senate bill (S. 1508) to provide technical and legal 
assistance to tribal justice systems and members of Indian tribes, and 
for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 1508

       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 ``Indian Tribal Justice 
     Technical and Legal Assistance Act of 2000''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds and declares that--
       (1) there is a government-to-government relationship 
     between the United States and Indian tribes;
       (2) Indian tribes are sovereign entities and are 
     responsible for exercising governmental authority over Indian 
     lands;
       (3) the rate of violent crime committed in Indian country 
     is approximately twice the rate of violent crime committed in 
     the United States as a whole;
       (4) in any community, a high rate of violent crime is a 
     major obstacle to investment, job creation and economic 
     growth;
       (5) tribal justice systems are an essential part of tribal 
     governments and serve as important forums for ensuring the 
     health and safety and the political integrity of tribal 
     governments;
       (6) Congress and the Federal courts have repeatedly 
     recognized tribal justice systems as the most appropriate 
     forums for the adjudication of disputes affecting personal 
     and property rights on Native lands;
       (7) enhancing tribal court systems and improving access to 
     those systems serves the dual Federal goals of tribal 
     political self-determination and economic self-sufficiency;
       (8) there is both inadequate funding and an inadequate 
     coordinating mechanism to meet the technical and legal 
     assistance needs of tribal justice systems and this lack of 
     adequate technical and legal assistance funding impairs their 
     operation;
       (9) tribal court membership organizations have served a 
     critical role in providing training and technical assistance 
     for development and enhancement of tribal justice systems;
       (10) Indian legal services programs, as funded partially 
     through the Legal Services Corporation, have an established 
     record of providing cost effective legal assistance to Indian 
     people in tribal court forums, and also contribute 
     significantly to the development of tribal courts and tribal 
     jurisprudence; and
       (11) the provision of adequate technical assistance to 
     tribal courts and legal assistance to both individuals and 
     tribal courts is an essential element in the development of 
     strong tribal court systems.

     SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

       The purposes of this Act are as follows:
       (1) to carry out the responsibility of the United States to 
     Indian tribes and members of Indian tribes by ensuring access 
     to quality technical and legal assistance.
       (2) To strengthen and improve the capacity of tribal court 
     systems that address civil and criminal causes of action 
     under the jurisdiction of Indian tribes.
       (3) To strengthen tribal governments and the economies of 
     Indian tribes through the enhancement and, where appropriate, 
     development of tribal court systems for the administration of 
     justice in Indian country by providing technical and legal 
     assistance services.
       (4) To encourage collaborative efforts between national or 
     regional membership organizations and associations whose 
     membership consists of judicial system personnel within 
     tribal justice systems; non-profit entities which provide 
     legal assistance services for Indian tribes, members of 
     Indian tribes, and/or tribal justice systems.
       (5) To assist in the development of tribal judicial systems 
     by supplementing prior Congressional efforts such as the 
     Indian Tribal Justice Act (Public Law 103-176).

     SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

       For purposes of this Act:
       (1) Attorney general.--The term ``Attorney General'' means 
     the Attorney General of the United States.
       (2) Indian lands.--The term ``Indian lands'' shall include 
     lands within the definition of ``Indian country'', as defined 
     in 18 U.S.C. 1151; or ``Indian reservations'', as defined in 
     section 3(d) of the Indian Financing Act of 1974, 25 U.S.C. 
     1452(d), or section 4(10) of the Indian Child Welfare Act, 25 
     U.S.C. 1903(10). For purposes of the preceding sentence, such 
     section 3(d) of the Indian Financing Act shall be applied by 
     treating the term ``former Indian reservations in Oklahoma'' 
     as including only lands which are within the jurisdictional 
     area of an Oklahoma Indian Tribe (as determined by the 
     Secretary of Interior) and are recognized by such Secretary 
     as eligible for trust land status under 25 CFR part 151 (as 
     in effect on the date of enactment of this sentence).
       (3) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' means any 
     Indian tribe, band, nation, pueblo, or other organized group 
     or community which administers justice or plans to administer 
     justice under its inherent authority or the authority of the 
     United States and which

[[Page H10507]]

     is recognized as eligible for the special programs and 
     services provided by the United States to Indian tribes 
     because of their status as Indians.
       (4) Judicial personnel.--The term ``judicial personnel'' 
     means any judge, magistrate, court counselor, court clerk, 
     court administrator, bailiff, probation officer, officer of 
     the court, dispute resolution facilitator, or other official, 
     employee, or volunteer within the tribal judicial system.
       (5) Non-profit entities.--The term ``non-profit entity'' or 
     ``non-profit entities'' has the meaning given that term in 
     section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
       (6) Office of tribal justice.--The term ``Office of Tribal 
     Justice'' means the Office of Tribal Justice in the United 
     States Department of Justice.
       (7) Tribal justice system.--The term ``tribal court'', 
     ``tribal court system'', or ``tribal justice system'' means 
     the entire judicial branch, and employees thereof, of an 
     Indian tribe, including, but not limited to, traditional 
     methods and fora for dispute resolution, trial courts, 
     appellate courts, including inter-tribal appellate courts, 
     alternative dispute resolution systems, and circuit rider 
     systems, established by inherent tribunal authority whether 
     or not they constitute a court of record.

 TITLE I--TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGAL 
                           ASSISTANCE GRANTS

     SEC. 101. TRIBAL JUSTICE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
                   GRANTS.

       Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Attorney 
     General, in consultation with the Office of Tribal Justice, 
     shall award grants to national or regional membership 
     organizations and associations whose membership consists of 
     judicial system personnel within tribal justice systems which 
     submit an application to the Attorney General in such form 
     and manner as the Attorney General may prescribe to provide 
     training and technical assistance for the development, 
     enrichment, enhancement of tribal justice systems, or other 
     purposes consistent with this Act.

     SEC. 102. TRIBAL CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS.

       Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Attorney 
     General, in consultation with the Office of Tribal Justice, 
     shall award grants to non-profit entities, as defined under 
     section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, which provide 
     legal assistance services for Indian tribes, members of 
     Indian tribes, or tribal justice systems pursuant to federal 
     poverty guidelines that submit an application to the Attorney 
     General in such form and manner as the Attorney General may 
     prescribe for the provision of civil legal assistance to 
     members of Indian tribes and tribal justice systems, and/or 
     other purposes consistent with this Act.

     SEC. 103. TRIBAL CRIMINAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS.

       Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Attorney 
     General, in consultation with the Office of Tribal Justice, 
     shall award grants to non-profit entities, as defined by 
     section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, which provide 
     legal assistance services for Indian tribes, members of 
     Indian tribes, or tribal justice systems pursuant to federal 
     poverty guidelines that submit an application to the Attorney 
     General in such form and manner as the Attorney General may 
     prescribe for the provision of criminal legal assistance to 
     members of Indian tribes and tribal justice systems, and/or 
     other purposes consistent with this Act. Funding under this 
     title may apply to programs, procedures, or proceedings 
     involving adult criminal actions, juvenile delinquency 
     actions, and/or guardian-ad-litem appointments arising out of 
     criminal or delinquency acts.

     SEC. 104. NO OFFSET.

       No Federal agency shall offset funds made available 
     pursuant to this Act for Indian tribal court membership 
     organizations or Indian legal services organizations against 
     other funds otherwise available for use in connection with 
     technical or legal assistance to tribal justice systems or 
     members of Indian tribes.

     SEC. 105. TRIBAL AUTHORITY.

       Nothing in this Act shall be construed to--
       (1) encroach upon or diminish in any way the inherent 
     sovereign authority of each tribal government to determine 
     the role of the tribal justice system within the tribal 
     government or to enact and enforce tribal laws;
       (2) diminish in any way the authority of tribal governments 
     to appoint personnel;
       (3) impair the rights of each tribal government to 
     determine the nature of its own legal system or the 
     appointment of authority within the tribal government;
       (4) alter in any way any tribal traditional dispute 
     resolution fora;
       (5) imply that any tribal justice system is an 
     instrumentality of the United States; or
       (6) diminish the trust responsibility of the United States 
     to Indian tribal governments and tribal justice systems of 
     such governments.

     SEC. 106. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       For purposes of carrying out the activities under this 
     title, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as 
     are necessary for fiscal years 2000 through 2004.

                     TITLE II--INDIAN TRIBAL COURTS

     SEC. 201. GRANTS.

       (a) In General.--The Attorney General may award grants and 
     provide technical assistance to Indian tribes to enable such 
     tribes to carry out programs to support--
       (1) the development, enhancement, and continuing operation 
     of tribal justice systems; and
       (2) the development and implementation of--
       (A) tribal codes and sentencing guidelines;
       (B) inter-tribal courts and appellate systems;
       (C) tribal probation services, diversion programs, and 
     alternative sentencing provisions;
       (D) tribal juvenile services and multi-disciplinary 
     protocols for child physical and sexual abuse; and
       (E) traditional tribal judicial practices, traditional 
     tribal justice systems, and traditional methods of dispute 
     resolution.
       (b) Consultation.--In carrying out this section, the 
     Attorney General may consult with the Office of Tribal 
     Justice and any other appropriate tribal or Federal 
     officials.
       (c) Regulations.--The Attorney General may promulgate such 
     regulations and guidelines as may be necessary to carry out 
     this title.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--For purposes of 
     carrying out the activities under this section, there are 
     authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary for 
     fiscal years 2000 through 2004.

     SEC. 202. TRIBAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS.

       Section 201 of the Indian Tribal Justice Act (25 U.S.C. 
     3621) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``1994, 1995, 1996, 
     1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000'' and inserting ``2000 through 
     2007'';
       (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``1994, 1995, 1996, 
     1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000'' and inserting ``2000 through 
     2007'';
       (3) in subsection (c), by striking ``1994, 1995, 1996, 
     1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000'' and inserting ``2000 through 
     2007''; and
       (4) in subsection (d), by striking ``1994, 1995, 1996, 
     1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000'' and inserting ``2000 through 
     2007''.

 TITLE III--TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO ALASKA NATIVE CLAIMS SETTLEMENT ACT

     SEC. 301. ALASKA NATIVE VETERANS.

       Section 41 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 
     U.S.C. 1629g) is amended as follows:
       (1) Subsection (a)(3)(I)(4) is amended by striking ``and 
     Reindeer'' and inserting ``or''.
       (2) Subsection (a)(4)(B) is amended by striking ``; and'' 
     and inserting ``; or''.
       (3) Subsection (b)(1)(B)(i) is amended by striking ``June 
     2, 1971'' and inserting ``December 31, 1971''.
       (4) Subsection (b)(2) is amended by striking the matter 
     preceding subparagraph (A) and inserting the following:
       ``(2) The personal representative or special administrator, 
     appointed in an Alaska State court proceeding of the estate 
     of a decedent who was eligible under subsection (b)(1)(A) 
     may, for the benefit of the heirs, select an allotment if the 
     decedent was a veteran who served in South East Asia at any 
     time during the period beginning August 5, 1964, and ending 
     December 31, 1971, and during that period the decedent--''.

     SEC. 302. LEVIES ON SETTLEMENT TRUST INTERESTS.

       Section 39(c) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 
     (43 U.S.C. 1629e(c)) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new paragraph:
       ``(8) A beneficiary's interest in a settlement trust and 
     the distributions thereon shall be subject to creditor action 
     (including without limitation, levy attachment, pledge, lien, 
     judgment execution, assignment, and the insolvency and 
     bankruptcy laws) only to the extent that Settlement Common 
     Stock and the distributions thereon are subject to such 
     creditor action under section 7(h) of this Act.''.

 TITLE IV--NATIONAL LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM FOR AMERICAN INDIAN, ALASKAN 
                   NATIVE, AND NATIVE HAWAIIAN YOUTH

     SEC. 401. ADMINISTRATION OF NATIONAL LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM FOR 
                   AMERICAN INDIAN, ALASKAN NATIVE, AND NATIVE 
                   HAWAIIAN YOUTH.

       (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
     the Secretary of Education for the Washington Workshops 
     Foundation $2,200,000 for administration of a national 
     leadership symposium for American Indian, Alaskan Native, and 
     Native Hawaiian youth on the traditions and values of 
     American democracy.
       (b) Content of Symposium.--The symposium administered under 
     subsection (a) shall--
       (1) be comprised of youth seminar programs which study the 
     workings and practices of American national government in 
     Washington, DC, to be held in conjunction with the opening of 
     the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian; and
       (2) envision the participation and enhancement of American 
     Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian youth in the 
     American political process by interfacing in the first-hand 
     operations of the United States Government.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Alaska (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from California (Mr. George 
Miller) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young).

[[Page H10508]]

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume, and I rise in support of the proposed Tribal Justice Technical 
and Legal Assistance Act of 1999.
  This bill authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to tribal 
justice systems to provide training and technical assistance for the 
development, enrichment, and enhancement of tribal justice systems.
  This legislation also authorizes the Attorney General to award grants 
to provide technical assistance to Indian tribes to enable them to 
carry out programs to support their tribal justice systems.
  Let me point out that all grants provided for in this legislation 
will be subject to the availability of appropriations.
  S. 1508 was passed by the other body on November 19, 1999. Very 
frankly, Mr. Speaker, this is an important bill to many tribes, and I 
urge my colleagues to support its passage today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  In essence, Mr. Speaker, this legislation would provide training 
technical assistance for the development, enrichment, and enhancement 
of tribal justice systems. We support the legislation, and I urge my 
colleagues to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the Senate bill, S. 1508, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill, as amended, was 
passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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