[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 132 (Monday, July 27, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E685]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     DEPARTMENT OF STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2021

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. DON YOUNG

                               of alaska

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 23, 2020

  Mr. YOUNG. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following 
exchange of correspondence between myself, House Appropriations 
Committee Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee 
Chair Betty McCollum, and Ranking Member David Joyce.
                                    Congress of the United States,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                    Washington, DC, July 23, 2020.
     Chair Betty McCollum,
     Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, 
         House Appropriations Committee, Washington, DC.
     Ranking Member Dave Joyce,
     Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, 
         House Appropriations Committee, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chair McCollum and Ranking Member Joyce: I want to 
     thank you for your work on the Fiscal Year 2021 Interior, 
     Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill, 
     particularly your inclusion of language that transitions the 
     105(l) Lease Program to an indefinite appropriation for such 
     sums that are necessary. Funding the 105(l) Lease Program in 
     this manner will uphold the federal government's trust 
     responsibility to Alaska Natives and American Indians and 
     support village clinics in Alaska that rely greatly on the 
     program.
       I write today about a provision in the bill that would 
     limit the federal compensation for leases under the program 
     to portions of tribal facilities that are ``necessary for the 
     operation of the Federal programs under the lease.'' Many 
     tribal clinics and hospitals in Alaska provide health care 
     services to non-Natives in addition to Native beneficiaries. 
     This is a vital service because often the tribal clinic is 
     the only health care provider in a village, and most villages 
     are not connected to the road system. By providing service to 
     non-Natives, these clinics are improving the health outcomes 
     for Natives both by preventing the spread of COVID-19 and 
     other illnesses and by affording the clinics a broader 
     financial base.
       I am concerned that the limiting provision could 
     potentially negatively impact the operation of 105(l) leases 
     in my state. I also note that there is pending litigation 
     regarding this topic.
  Given our strong working relationship, I respectfully request your 
help in addressing this issue in final Fiscal Year 2021 appropriations 
legislation.
           Sincerely,
                                                        Don Young,
     Congressman for all Alaska.
                                  ____

                                                    July 23, 2020.
     Hon. Don Young,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Congressman Young: Thank you for your letter regarding 
     Tribal leases in Section 433 of the State, Foreign 
     Operations, Agriculture, Rural Development, Interior, 
     Environment, Military Construction, and Veterans Affairs 
     Appropriations Act, 2021 (H.R. 7608). Like you, we remain 
     steadfast in our commitment to supporting Tribes' right to 
     enter into facility lease agreements pursuant to section 
     105(l) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
     Assistance Act, as amended (P.L. 93-638). We appreciate you 
     bringing this issue to our attention, and we would be happy 
     to continue discussions with you on this provision as the 
     bill moves through the process to enactment.
           Sincerely,
     Betty McCollum,
       Chair, Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related 
     Agencies.
     David P. Joyce,
       Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
     Related Agencies.

                          ____________________