[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 163 (Thursday, October 25, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13449-S13450]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. STEVENS (for himself, Mr. Inouye, Ms. Murkowski, and Mr. 
        Akaka):
  S. 2232. A bill to direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a 
demonstration program to adapt the lessons of providing foreign aid to 
underdeveloped economies to the provision of Federal economic 
development assistance to certain similarly situated individuals, and 
for other purposes; to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce the Foreign Aid 
Lessons for Domestic Economic Assistance Act of 2007 to bring a fresh 
approach to the vexing problem of stimulating Alaska Native, Native 
Hawaiian and Lower-48 Indian Tribe economies to bring jobs, hope and 
investment to these impoverished peoples.
  Despite modest improvements in the economic and social well-being of 
Alaska's native people, they continue to have extremely high rates of 
unemployment and poverty, poor health, substandard housing, and the 
related ills of alcohol and drug abuse.
  Only 11 percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives hold a 
bachelor's degree compared to 24 percent of the total population. The 
poverty rate in

[[Page S13450]]

1999 was 25.7 percent for the American Indian and Alaska Native 
population, compared to 12.4 percent of the total population.
  Weak economies also contribute to poor health in native communities: 
American Indian and Alaska Natives suffer from significantly higher 
mortality rates compared to the general population. The death rate for 
American Indians and Alaska Natives for tuberculosis is 600 percent 
higher, 510 percent higher for alcoholism, 229 percent higher for motor 
vehicle crashes, 189 percent higher for diabetes, 61 percent higher for 
homicide and 62 percent higher for suicide. American Indian and Alaska 
Native infants die at a rate of 8.5 per every 1,000 live births, 
compared to 6.8 per 1,000 for all U.S. races.
  Housing statistics are no better--12 percent of American Indian and 
Alaska Native homes lack safe and adequate water supply and waste 
disposal facilities compared to one percent of the U.S. general 
population.
  This is the profile of native communities in Alaska, and in the 
lower-48 states as well, despite a vibrant cultural legacy and abundant 
natural resources on and under their lands and in their waters. Many 
native communities have marketable timber, huge reserves of coal, 
natural gas, oil, fish and shellfish and other natural amenities.
  At the same time, native economies are hobbled by geographic 
remoteness, distance from markets and population centers, poor physical 
infrastructure, and a lack of governmental transparency, contributing 
to stagnating Native American economies.
  Because native economies are often plagued by the same challenges as 
the economies of the developing world, native economies are likely to 
benefit from the application of proven models employed in international 
development efforts, most notably the Millenium Challenge Act of 2003. 
This initiative aims to foster those policies that are known to be 
effective and in the process, reduce poverty and promote sustainable 
economic growth in the host country. Typically, the activities that are 
assisted are related to agriculture, irrigation, and related land 
practices; physical infrastructure development to facilitate marketing 
of goods and services; and a variety of health care programs.
  Similarly, the objectives of the legislation I am introducing today 
are just as straightforward: enhancing the long-term job creation and 
revenue generation potential of Native economies by creating 
investment-favorable climates and increasing Native productivity.
  The Foreign Aid Lessons for Domestic Economic Assistance Act would 
also authorize administering federal economic development assistance in 
a novel manner to promote economic growth, eliminate poverty, and 
strengthen good governance, entrepreneurship, and investment in native 
communities.
  A corollary, but equally important, objective is to improve the 
effectiveness of existing Federal economic development assistance by 
encouraging the integration and coordination of such assistance to 
benefit Native economies. Accordingly, this legislation requires that 
any assistance provided must be coordinated with other Federal economic 
development assistance programs for Native Americans.
  A critical component of the Foreign Aid Lessons for Domestic Economic 
Assistance Demonstration is in its demand for accountability in the 
performance of the Compact terms and use of financial resources. This 
legislation requires that eligible entities submit to the Secretary of 
Commerce written reports on an annual basis detailing activities 
undertaken and progress made through assistance from this program.
  Mr. President, I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this 
legislation.
                                 ______