[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 117 (Tuesday, September 17, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8693-S8694]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 NATIVE AMERICAN COMMERCIAL DRIVING TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
                                  ACT

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to Calendar No. 557, S. 1344.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1344) to provide training and technical 
     assistance to Native Americans who are interested in 
     commercial vehicle driving careers.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, 
which had been reported from the Committee on Indian Affairs with an 
amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu 
thereof the following:
  [Strike the part shown in black brackets and insert the part shown in 
italic.]
       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 Commercial 
     Driving Training and Technical Assistance Act''.

     [SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       [(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       [(1) Despite the availability of abundant natural resources 
     on Indian lands and a rich cultural legacy that accords great 
     value to self-determination, self-reliance, and independence, 
     Native Americans suffer higher rates of unemployment, 
     poverty, poor health, substandard housing, and associated 
     social ills than those of any other group in the United 
     States.
       [(2) The United States has an obligation to assist Indian 
     tribes with the creation of appropriate economic and 
     political conditions.
       [(3) The economic success and material well-being of Native 
     American communities depends on the combined efforts of the 
     Federal Government, tribal governments, the private sector, 
     and individuals.
       [(4) Two tribally controlled community colleges, D-Q 
     University in the State of California and Fort Peck Community 
     College in the State of Montana, currently offer commercial 
     vehicle driving programs.
       [(5) The American Trucking Association reports that at 
     least until the year 2005, the trucking industry will need to 
     hire 403,000 truck drivers each year to fill empty positions.
       [(6) According to the Federal Government Occupational 
     Handbook the commercial driving industry is expected to 
     increase about as fast as the average for all occupations 
     through the year 2008 as the economy grows and the amount of 
     freight carried by trucks increases.

[[Page S8694]]

       [(7) A career in commercial vehicle driving offers a 
     competitive salary, employment benefits, job security, and a 
     profession.
       [(b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act--
       [(1) to foster and promote job creation and economic 
     opportunities for Native Americans; and
       [(2) to provide education, technical, and training 
     assistance to Native Americans who are interested in a 
     commercial vehicle driving career.

     [SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       [In this Act:
       [(1) Commercial vehicle driving.--The term ``commercial 
     vehicle driving'' means the driving of a vehicle which is a 
     tractor-trailer truck.
       [(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Labor.

     [SEC. 4. COMMERCIAL VEHICLE DRIVING TRAINING PROGRAM.

       [(a) Grants.--The Secretary may award 4 grants, on a 
     competitive basis, to eligible entities to support programs 
     providing training and certificates leading to the 
     professional development of individuals with respect to 
     commercial vehicle driving.
       [(b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
     subsection (a), an entity shall--
       [(1) be 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)); and
       [(2) prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at 
     such time, in such manner, and containing such information as 
     the Secretary may require.
       [(c) Priority.--In awarding grants under subsection (a), 
     the Secretary shall give priority to--
       [(1) grant applications that propose training that exceeds 
     the United States Department of Transportation's Proposed 
     Minimum Standards for Training Tractor-Trailer Drivers; and
       [(2) grant applications that propose training that exceeds 
     the entry level truck driver certification standards set by 
     the Professional Truck Driver Institute.
       [(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out 
     the Act.]

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Native American Commercial 
     Driving Training and Technical Assistance Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) despite the availability of abundant natural resources 
     on land under the jurisdiction of Indian tribes and the 
     existence of a rich cultural legacy that accords great value 
     to self-determination, self-reliance, and independence, 
     Native Americans suffer higher rates of unemployment, 
     poverty, poor health, substandard housing, and associated 
     social problems than any other group in the United States;
       (2) the United States has an obligation to assist Native 
     American communities in the establishment of appropriate 
     economic and political conditions;
       (3) the economic success and material well-being of Indian 
     communities depend on the combined efforts of the Federal 
     Government, tribal governments, the private sector, and 
     individuals;
       (4) commercial vehicle driving programs are currently 
     offered at several tribal colleges and universities;
       (5) the American Trucking Association reports that at least 
     until 2005, the trucking industry will need to hire 403,000 
     truck drivers each year to fill vacant positions;
       (6) according to the Federal Government Occupational 
     Handbook, the commercial vehicle driving industry is expected 
     to expand at the average rate of expansion for all 
     occupations through the year 2008 because of economic growth 
     and an increase in the quantity of freight carried by trucks; 
     and
       (7) a career in commercial vehicle driving offers a 
     competitive salary, employment benefits, job security, and a 
     profession.
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
       (1) to foster and promote job creation and economic 
     opportunities for Native Americans; and
       (2) to provide education, technical, and training 
     assistance to Native Americans who are interested in 
     commercial vehicle driving careers.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Commercial vehicle driving.--The term ``commercial 
     vehicle driving'' means the driving of--
       (A) a vehicle that is a tractor-trailer truck; or
       (B) any other vehicle (such as a bus or a vehicle used for 
     the purpose of construction) the driving of which requires a 
     commercial license.
       (2) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the 
     meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
     Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).
       (3) Native american.--The term ``Native American'' means an 
     individual who is a member of--
       (A) an Indian tribe; or
       (B) any people or culture that is indigenous to the United 
     States, as determined by the Secretary.
       (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Labor.

     SEC. 4. COMMERCIAL VEHICLE DRIVING TRAINING PROGRAM.

       (a) Grants.--The Secretary may provide grants, on a 
     competitive basis, to entities described in subsection (b) to 
     support programs providing training and certificates leading 
     to the licensing of Native Americans with respect to 
     commercial vehicle driving.
       (b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
     subsection (a), an entity shall--
       (1) be a tribal college or university (as defined in 
     section 316(b)(3) of the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
     1059(b)(3)); and
       (2) prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at 
     such time, in such manner, and containing such information as 
     the Secretary may require.
       (c) Priority.--In providing grants under subsection (a), 
     the Secretary shall give priority to grant applications 
     that--
       (1) propose training that exceeds proposed minimum 
     standards for training tractor-trailer drivers of the 
     Department of Transportation;
       (2) propose training that exceeds the entry level truck 
     driver certification standards set by the Professional Truck 
     Driver Institute; and
       (3) propose an education partnership with a private 
     trucking firm, trucking association, or similar entity in 
     order to ensure the effectiveness of the grant program under 
     this section.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out 
     this Act.

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
agree to the committee substitute amendment; that the bill, as amended, 
be read a third time and passed; that the motion to reconsider be laid 
upon the table; and that any statements relating to the bill be printed 
in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
  The bill (S. 1344), as amended, was read the third time and passed.

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