09-33 Supporting the Native American Challenge Demonstration Project Act

Published on November 10th, 2009

By ALEX DEMARBAN

Summary

AFN urges Congress to enact and fund the 2009 Native American Challenge Demonstration Project Act during the 111th Congress.

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Full Text

RESOLUTION 09-33

A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN CHALLENGE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT ACT OF 2009

WHEREAS: The Association of Village Council Presidents, working jointly with the Bristol Bay Native Association and the Alaska Federal of Natives, has developed a Congressional legislative proposal to create a domestic version of the Millennium Challenge Account used for foreign aid; and

WHEREAS: Two years ago jointly proposed legislation introduced as S. 2232, the Native American Challenge Demonstration Project Act, would create five pilot projects in remote Native American areas under the Department of Commerce to direct millions in federal funding for the purposes of fostering sustainable economic growth and reducing poverty; and

WHEREAS: The proposed legislation recognizes that despite large federal funding streams for particular purposes such as health and housing, the remote Native communities of rural Alaska and other similar indigenous populations have never closed the gap with mainstream American society in terms of most indicators of social and economic health, and further that federal funding has yet to achieve sustainable economic growth; and

WHEREAS: The new program would have many of the features of the Millennium Challenge Corporation's system of providing foreign aid, which is based on a half-century of foreign aid experience, creating this annually appropriated mandate would fund local economic programs under a compact (rather than a grant) process; and

WHEREAS: the demonstration project should be funded at a total of $100 million to support one compact in each Alaska and Hawaii, and three compacts with Lower 48 reservation tribes; and

WHEREAS: The legislation designates a joint application by BBNA, AVCP and AFN as the Alaska compacting entity; and

WHEREAS: The Honorable Lisa Murkowski introduced S. 980, "Native American Challenge Demonstration Project Act of 2009" on her behalf and on behalf of the original co-sponsors of this bill U. S. Senators: Mark Begich of Alaska; Daniel K. Akaka and Daniel K. Inouye, both from the Hawaii. This bill was referred to the U. S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, the same committee that it was referred to during the 110th Congress; and

WHEREAS: On May 19,2009 U. S. House side, Congressman Don Young introduced the House version of this bill; HR 2507, on his behalf and on behalf of the original co-sponsor Congressman Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii is an original co-sponsor of the bill; and,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the delegates of the 2009 Annual Convention of the Alaska Federation of Natives, Inc., that they urge Congress to enact, and fund, the 2009 Native American Challenge Demonstration Project Act of 2009 during the 111th Congress.

SUBMITTED BY: ASSOCIATION OF VILLAGE COUNCIL PRESIDENTS

COMMITTEE ACTION: DO PASS

CONVENTION ACTION: PASSED