[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 164 (Thursday, November 5, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S11236]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       NATIONAL AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE HERITAGE MONTH

  Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 342, submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 342) recognizing National American 
     Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month and celebrating the 
     heritage and culture of American Indians and Alaska Natives 
     and the contributions of American Indians and Alaska Natives 
     to the United States.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, on October 30, 2009, President Obama 
issued a proclamation designating November 2009 as National American 
Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. This President follows a 
tradition of Presidents since 1990 of issuing proclamations honoring 
the significant contributions of tribal governments and individual 
Native Americans to our Nation's history and development.
  Congress also has traditionally recognized the contributions of 
Native Americans to the United States in the form of resolutions, 
findings, coins and medals. The resolution introduced here today 
continues in that tradition.
  This resolution recognizes some of the many contributions that Native 
Americans have made to help build our great Nation as well as the 
continued contributions of Native Americans to the growth of the United 
States. Native Americans have made significant contributions in the 
fields of agriculture, medicine, music, language, and art. They were an 
influencing force in the founding documents of our Federal Government. 
Indian tribes have even made use of Native languages to develop an 
unbreakable military code that helped defeat the Axis powers in World 
War II. These remarkable tribes and individual Native Americans have 
shaped our Nation's history in so many very meaningful ways.
  Through this resolution, we recognize and celebrate these and many 
other contributions of tribal governments and Native Americans during 
the month of November. It is particularly important that President 
Obama has decided to host a Tribal Leaders Summit at the White House. 
The President will meet with tribal leaders in Washington, DC, November 
5, 2009, to discuss the many issues facing tribal communities 
throughout the Nation.
  We have several very important pieces of legislation before this body 
that I hope to move in the interest of the First Americans. S. 1790, 
the Indian Health Care Improvement Reauthorization and Extension Act of 
2009, was introduced on October 15, 2009, after much consultation and 
discussion among tribal leaders and Indian health experts. I will work 
very hard this Congress to get this important piece of legislation to 
the President's desk. In addition, after many, many hearings and 
numerous listening sessions, I introduced S. 797, the Tribal Law and 
Order Act of 2009, earlier this year. This important piece of 
legislation has strong bipartisan support and will help to improve the 
status of law and order on tribal lands. The bill has been approved by 
the Indian Affairs Committee and is waiting for approval by the full 
Senate.
  I urge all citizens, and local, State, and Federal governments and 
agencies to take time this month to learn more about the many facets of 
Native American history, traditions, and their important contributions 
to the formation of the United States. Mr. President, I ask that this 
resolution be adopted quickly and that it act as encouragement to all 
people of the United States to observe the month of November as 
National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month.
  Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any 
statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 342) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 342

       Whereas from November 1, 2009, through November 30, 2009, 
     the United States celebrates National American Indian and 
     Alaska Native Heritage Month;
       Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives are descendants 
     of the original, indigenous inhabitants of what is now the 
     United States;
       Whereas, in 2000, the United States Census Bureau reported 
     that there were more than 4,000,000 people in the United 
     States of American Indian and Alaska Native descent;
       Whereas, on December 2, 1989, the Committee on Indian 
     Affairs of the Senate held a hearing exploring the 
     contributions of the Iroquois Confederacy, and its influence 
     on the Founding Fathers in the drafting of the Constitution 
     of the United States with the concepts of freedom of speech, 
     the separation of governmental powers, and checks and 
     balances among the branches of government;
       Whereas the Senate has reaffirmed that a major national 
     goal of the United States is to provide the resources, 
     processes, and structure that will enable Indian Tribes and 
     tribal members to obtain the quantity and quality of health 
     care services and opportunities that will eliminate the 
     health disparities between American Indians and the general 
     population of the United States;
       Whereas Congress recently reaffirmed its trust 
     responsibility to improve the housing conditions and 
     socioeconomic status of American Indians and Alaska Natives 
     by providing affordable homes in a safe and healthy 
     environment;
       Whereas, throughout its course of dealing with Indian 
     Tribes, the United States Government has engaged in a 
     government-to-government relationship with Tribes;
       Whereas the United States Government owes a trust 
     obligation to Tribes, acknowledged in treaties, statutes, and 
     decisions of the Supreme Court, to protect the interests and 
     welfare of tribal governments and their members;
       Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives have 
     consistently served with honor and distinction in the Armed 
     Forces of the United States, some as early as the 
     Revolutionary War, and continue to serve in the Armed Forces 
     in greater numbers per capita than any other group in the 
     United States;
       Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives speak and 
     preserve indigenous languages and have contributed hundreds 
     of words to the English language, including the names of 
     people and locations in the United States;
       Whereas Congress has recognized Native American code 
     talkers who served with honor and distinction in World War I 
     and World War II, using indigenous languages as an 
     unbreakable military code, saving countless American lives;
       Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives are deeply 
     rooted in tradition and culture, which drives their strength 
     of community; and
       Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives of all ages 
     celebrate the great achievements of their ancestors and 
     heroes and continue to share their stories with future 
     generations: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the celebration of National American Indian 
     and Alaska Native Heritage Month during the month of November 
     2009;
       (2) honors the heritage and culture of American Indians and 
     Alaska Natives and the contributions of American Indians and 
     Alaska Natives to the United States; and
       (3) urges the people of the United States to observe 
     National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month 
     with appropriate programs and activities.

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