[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 176 (Wednesday, November 14, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2420]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNITION OF AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE HERITAGE MONTH

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                         HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 14, 2007

  Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to acknowledge 
National American Indian Heritage Month and to call attention to the 
dire situation that many of our Native American brothers and sisters 
continue to live in today. In the world's richest nation on earth, many 
Native American people struggle to obtain the most basic of services 
made available to the rest of the nation, effectively threatening the 
health and well-being of future generations. For this reason, I 
continually support legislation that strengthens the self-determination 
of Native American people living both on and off Indian reservations.
  According to the National Congress of American Indians and the 
National Indian Health Board, the Native American infant mortality rate 
is 150 percent greater than that of Caucasian infants, suicide among 
Native Americans is 2\1/2\ times higher than the national average, 
Native Americans are 2.6 times more likely to be diagnosed with 
diabetes, and the life expectancy rate for Native Americans is 5 years 
less than the rest of the U.S. population. There is an urgent need for 
sufficient and effective healthcare for Native American people and yet 
the President has proposed zeroing out Urban Indian Health Programs and 
reducing funding to Indian Health Facilities by $25 million. In 
addition, inadequate legal services and weakening education support 
continue to hinder Native American people from achieving self-
sufficiency and upward mobility.
  As a new Appropriations Committee member, I am committed to 
strengthening the funding sources for Native American programs, 
specifically those programs in the areas of healthcare, education, and 
the justice system. I have fought for the full funding for the 
Community Health Partnership of Santa Clara County's Healthy Women, 
Healthy Choices project, which aims to increase health status of 
medically underserved mid-life women by providing comprehensive health 
education and promoting adoption of healthier behaviors through 
community workshops and provider trainings. I have also fought to 
continue the funding for the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Urban Indian 
Health Program, which works to eradicate the mental health, substance 
abuse, and chronic disease disparities plaguing urban Indian people. 
These valuable programs provide the holistic and culturally sensitive 
care needed to effectively support this very vulnerable population.
  In addition, I have cosponsored numerous health care bills developed 
specifically to address the needs of Native American people including 
the Indian Health Care Improvement Act Amendments of 2007. Introduced 
by Representative Frank Pallone, H.R. 1328 seeks to create 
comprehensive behavioral health, prevention, treatment, and aftercare 
services for Native American peoples. By passing policies such as 
these, Congress can help turn around the Native American health care 
crisis and improve the well-being of future generations.
  Since joining the Appropriations committee, I have also argued for 
the continued funding of the O'Malley Education program. As a former 
educator, I know and understand the positive influence that a properly 
funded school system can have on the performance of its students. 
Authorized in 1934, the Johnson O'Malley Act was passed to ensure that 
the federal government supports the unique and specialized educational 
needs of Native American children. Providing funding for basic 
education-related items such as eyeglasses, school supplies, learning 
materials, and scholastic testing fees, the O'Malley Education program 
helps Native American children achieve academic success. The program 
provides critical supplemental funding not covered by any other 
Federal, State, or local agency. It is an essential component that is 
supporting the efforts of the educational school system and improving 
the educational attainment of Native American children.
  Preservation of indigenous languages is another significant challenge 
impacting Native America and one that Congress can help support. 
According to the National Indian Education Association (NIEA), Native 
American languages are being lost at a rate so rapid that by the year 
2050 only twenty indigenous languages will remain viable. Allowing the 
loss of these indigenous languages would not only be devastating to 
Native American people, but would be a true disservice to the world. 
For this reason, I have supported legislation such as H. Con. Res. 11, 
the English Plus Resolution, introduced by Representative Joe Serrano, 
which calls on the Federal Government to support and assist Native 
American groups working to preserve and prevent the extinction of their 
languages and cultures.
  Legal services for Native American people also require continued 
Congressional attention. To ensure the sustainability of Indian legal 
services, we must continue to provide the tribal justice system with 
adequate federal financial support. For this reason, I have proposed 
appropriations funding for the California Indian Legal Services' Tribal 
Court Development Project (TCD). Funding the TCD project would 
strengthen existing tribal courts in California and foster the 
development of new tribal courts. TCD would improve capacity and 
resource-building, increase State-wide institution-building and 
information-sharing, and enhance legal services offered by the 
California tribal justice system. I have also urged the Appropriations 
Committee to fund the National Congress of American Indians and the 
California Indian Legal Services' Alcohol and Substance Abuse 
Demonstration Projects, the Tribal Courts Assistance Program, and the 
Tribal Prison Construction Program. Together, these initiatives work to 
strengthen State and local law enforcement efforts and provide much 
needed funding directed at improving resources, services, and 
infrastructure available in the tribal justice system.
  In addition to bringing these issues to light, I have also 
cosponsored H.J. Res. 3, introduced by Representative Jo Ann Davis, 
which calls on the Federal Government to recognize and apologize for 
the ill-conceived policies it has implemented against Native American 
peoples throughout our Nation's history, and H.R. 3585, introduced by 
Representative Joe Baca, which formally honors the achievements and 
contributions of Native American people, calls for the development of a 
model educational curriculum, which recognizes such achievements, and 
encourages the American people to celebrate National American Indian 
Heritage Day.
  As we embark on the 2007 National American Indian Heritage Month, I 
am hopeful that my colleagues and I will have the opportunity to pass 
the proposed legislation and confirm Congress' commitment to support 
Native American peoples and uphold Native American cultures and 
languages.

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