IB
Union Calendar No. 457
104TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3973
[Report No. 104–838]
To provide for a study of the recommendations of the Joint Federal-State
Commission on Policies and Programs Affecting Alaska Natives.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AUGUST 2, 1996
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Resources
September 25, 1996
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on August 2, 1996]
A BILL
To provide for a study of the recommendations of the Joint
Federal-State Commission on Policies and Programs Af-
fecting Alaska Natives.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives 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 Poli-
cies and Programs Affecting Alaska Natives (hereafter
in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Alaska Natives Com-
mission’’) was established 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 Alas-
ka’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 hear-
ings 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 com-
munities were experiencing a social, cultural, and
economic crisis marked by rampant unemployment,
lack of economic opportunity, alcohol abuse, depres-
sion, 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 eco-
nomic opportunities for Alaska Natives, government
programs for the poor have become the foundation of
many village economies. Displacing traditional Alas-
ka Native social safety nets, these well-meaning pro-
grams have undermined the healthy interdependence
and self-sufficiency of Native tribes and families and
have put Native tribes and families at risk of becom-
ing permanent dependencies of Government.
(5) Despite these seemingly insurmountable prob-
lems, the Alaska Natives Commission found that Alas-
ka Natives, building on the Alaska Native Claims Set-
tlement 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
traditional 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 respon-
sibility by Alaska Natives for the well-being of
their members,
(B) the strengthening of their economies,
(C) the strengthening, operation, and con-
trol of their systems of governance, social serv-
ices, 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 con-
fronting Alaska Natives. This should be done rapidly,
with certainty, and in conformity with the real eco-
nomic, social, and cultural needs of Alaska Natives.
(9) Congress retains and has exercised its con-
stitutional 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 cer-
tain recommendations raising important policy ques-
tions which are unresolved in Alaska and which re-
quire further study and review before Congress consid-
ers legislation to implement solutions to address these
recommendations; and
(2) the Alaska Federation of Natives is the rep-
resentative body of statewide Alaska Native interests
best suited to further investigate and report to Con-
gress with proposals to implement the recommenda-
tions of the Alaska Natives Commission.
(b) GRANT.—The Secretary of Health and Human
Services shall make a grant to the Alaska Federation of Na-
tives 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;
(3) conduct hearings within the Alaska Native
community on further ways in which the Commis-
sion’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 develop-
ing its recommendations pursuant to subsection (c)(4), the
Alaska Federation of Natives shall give specific attention
to the ways in which the recommendations may be achieved
at the local level with maximum local control of the imple-
mentation 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 recommenda-
tions developed pursuant to subsection (c)(4), to the Presi-
dent 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 en-
courages the State of Alaska to provide the additional fund-
ing necessary for the completion of the study under this sec-
tion.