To provide for a study of the recommendations of the Joint Federal-State Commission on Policies and Programs Affecting Alaska Natives.
PL 104-270 (H.R.3973), enacted 10/09/1996

PUBLIC LAW 104-270—OCT. 9, 1996 
110 STAT. 3301 
Public Law 104-270 
104th Congress 
An Act 
To provide for a study of the recommendations of the Joint Federal-State Commission 
Oct. 9, 1996 
on Pohcies and Programs Affecting Alaska Natives. 
[H.R. 3973) 
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 42 USC 2991a 
POUCY. 
note. 
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 Pubhc 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 congression£d 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 unemplo3mient, 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. 
110 STAT. 3302 
PUBLIC LAW 104-270—OCT. 9, 1996 
(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. 
42 use 2991a 
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; 
PUBLIC LAW 104-270—OCT. 9, 1996 
110 STAT. 3303 
(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. 
Approved October 9, 1996. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 3973: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 104-838 (Comm. on Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 142 (1996): 
Sept. 26, considered and passed House. 
Sept. 28, considered and passed Senate.