H. R. 3973
One Hundred Fourth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,
the third day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-six
An Act
To provide for a study of the recommendations of the Joint Federal-State Commission
on Policies and Programs Affecting Alaska Natives.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF
POLICY.
The Congress finds and declares the following:
(1) The Joint Federal-State Commission on Policies and
Programs Affecting Alaska Natives (hereafter in this Act
referred to as the ‘‘Alaska Natives Commission’’) was estab-
lished by Public Law 101–379 (42 U.S.C. 2991a note) following
the publication in 1989 of the ‘‘Report on the Status of Alaska
Natives: A Call for Action’’ by the Alaska Federation of Natives
and after extensive congressional hearings which focused on
the need for the first comprehensive assessment of the social,
cultural, and economic condition of Alaska’s 86,000 Natives
since the enactment of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement
Act, Public Law 92–203.
(2) The 14-member Alaska Natives Commission held 15
regional hearings throughout Alaska between July 1992 and
October 1993, and 2 statewide hearings in Anchorage coinciding
with the Conventions of 1992 and 1993 of the Alaska Federation
of Natives. In May 1994, the Alaska Natives Commission issued
its 3 volume, 440 page report. As required by Public Law
101–379, the report was formally conveyed to the Congress,
the President of the United States, and the Governor of Alaska.
(3) The Alaska Natives Commission found that many
Alaska Native individuals, families, and communities were
experiencing a social, cultural, and economic crisis marked
by rampant unemployment, lack of economic opportunity,
alcohol abuse, depression, and morbidity and mortality rates
that have been described by health care professionals as ‘‘stag-
gering’’.
(4) The Alaska Natives Commission found that due to
the high rate of unemployment and lack of economic opportuni-
ties for Alaska Natives, government programs for the poor
have become the foundation of many village economies.
Displacing traditional Alaska Native social safety nets, these
well-meaning programs have undermined the healthy inter-
dependence and self-sufficiency of Native tribes and families
and have put Native tribes and families at risk of becoming
permanent dependencies of Government.
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(5) Despite these seemingly insurmountable problems, the
Alaska Natives Commission found that Alaska Natives, build-
ing on the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, had begun
a unique process of critical self-examination which, if supported
by the United States Congress through innovative legislation,
and effective public administration at all levels including tradi-
tional Native governance, could provide the basis for an Alaska
Native social, cultural, economic, and spiritual renewal.
(6) The Alaska Natives Commission recognized that the
key to the future well-being of Alaska Natives lay in—
(A) the systematic resumption of responsibility by
Alaska Natives for the well-being of their members,
(B) the strengthening of their economies,
(C) the strengthening, operation, and control of their
systems of governance, social services, education, health
care, and law enforcement, and
(D) exercising rights they have from their special
relationship with the Federal Government and as citizens
of the United States and Alaska.
(7) The Alaska Natives Commission recognized that the
following 3 basic principles must be respected in addressing
the myriad of problems facing Alaska Natives:
(A) Self-reliance.
(B) Self-determination.
(C) Integrity of Native cultures.
(8) There is a need to address the problems confronting
Alaska Natives. This should be done rapidly, with certainty,
and in conformity with the real economic, social, and cultural
needs of Alaska Natives.
(9) Congress retains and has exercised its constitutional
authority over Native affairs in Alaska subsequent to the Treaty
of Cession and does so now through this Act.
SEC. 2. ALASKA NATIVE IMPLEMENTATION STUDY.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds and declares that—
(1) the Alaska Natives Commission adopted certain
recommendations raising important policy questions which are
unresolved in Alaska and which require further study and
review before Congress considers legislation to implement solu-
tions to address these recommendations; and
(2) the Alaska Federation of Natives is the representative
body of statewide Alaska Native interests best suited to further
investigate and report to Congress with proposals to implement
the recommendations of the Alaska Natives Commission.
(b) GRANT.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall
make a grant to the Alaska Federation of Natives to conduct the
study and submit the report required by this section. Such grant
may only be made if the Alaska Federation of Natives agrees
to abide by the requirements of this section.
(c) STUDY.—Pursuant to subsection (b), the Alaska Federation
of Natives shall—
(1) examine the recommendations of the Alaska Natives
Commission;
(2) examine initiatives in the United States, Canada, and
elsewhere for successful ways that issues similar to the
issues addressed by the Alaska Natives Commission have been
addressed;
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(3) conduct hearings within the Alaska Native community
on further ways in which the Commission’s recommendations
might be implemented; and
(4) recommend enactment of specific provisions of law and
other actions the Congress should take to implement such
recommendations.
(d) CONSIDERATION
OF LOCAL CONTROL.—In developing its
recommendations pursuant to subsection (c)(4), the Alaska Federa-
tion of Natives shall give specific attention to the ways in which
the recommendations may be achieved at the local level with maxi-
mum local control of the implementation of the recommendations.
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 12 months after the date on which
the grant is made under subsection (b), the Alaska Federation
of Natives shall submit a report on the study conducted under
this section, together with the recommendations developed pursuant
to subsection (c)(4), to the President and the Congress and to
the Governor and legislature of the State of Alaska. In addition,
the Alaska Federation of Natives shall make the report available
to Alaska Native villages and organizations and to the general
public.
(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized
to be appropriated $350,000 for the grant under subsection (b).
(g) ADDITIONAL STATE FUNDING.—The Congress encourages the
State of Alaska to provide the additional funding necessary for
the completion of the study under this section.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.