[104th Congress Public Law 270]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
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[DOCID: f:publ270.104]
[[Page 110 STAT. 3301]]
Public Law 104-270
104th Congress
An Act
<<NOTE: Oct. 9, 1996 - [H.R. 3973]>> 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,
<<NOTE: 42 USC 2991a note.>> 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
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 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
``staggering''.
(4) The Alaska Natives Commission found that due to the high
rate of unemployment and lack of economic opportunities 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
interdependence 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, building 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
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 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.
<<NOTE: 42 USC 2991a note.>> 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 solutions 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 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 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:
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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.
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