The publication is reproduced in full below:
AMENDING ALYCE SPOTTED BEAR AND WALTER SOBOLEFF COMMISSION ON NATIVE
CHILDREN ACT
Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 325) to amend the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act to extend the deadline for a report by the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 325
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ALYCE SPOTTED BEAR AND WALTER SOBOLEFF COMMISSION
ON NATIVE CHILDREN REPORT.
Section 3(f) of the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act (Public Law 114-244; 130 Stat. 987) is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``3 years'' and inserting ``5 years''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell) and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Michigan.
General Leave
Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Michigan?
There was no objection.
Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, S. 325, introduced by Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska, provides a 2-year extension for the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children to publish its report and make policy recommendations for Federal, State, and Tribal programs that serve Native children.
Native children experience severe health and socioeconomic disparities compared to all other racial and ethnic groups in the United States due to the cycles of intergenerational trauma. It is the Federal Government's trust responsibility to provide for the health and well-being of Native children. However, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed much of the Commission's essential work.
Passage of S. 325 will grant the Commission an extension of time and ensure that the report best addresses the needs of Native children through much-needed expertise and cultural wisdom.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished Senator from Alaska, Senator Murkowski, for introducing and championing this critically important legislation, as well as my dear friend and Committee on Natural Resources colleague, Don Young, for leading the House companion bill.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 325, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 325, which would amend the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act, to extend the deadline of the Commission's report from 3 years to 5 years after the Commission is fully appointed and fully funded.
In 2016, the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act was signed into law.
The purpose of the legislation was to establish, within the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Tribal Justice, a commission on Native children and to conduct a comprehensive study regarding the Federal and local programs, grants, and support available for Native communities and Native children.
The legislation stipulated that 3 years after the date on which the Commission is fully appointed and funded, the Commission shall issue a report to Congress with its recommendations on how to achieve better use of existing resources, increased coordination, measurable outcomes, stronger data, enhanced private sector partnerships, and implementation of best practices.
Funding for the Commission was not authorized in the enacted version. However, the fiscal year 2019 Consolidated Appropriations Act provided
$400,000 to the Commission.
With delays in securing funding and the full appointment of Commission members, the Commission was not able to hold its first meeting until December 2019. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed much of the Commission's work.
In response to these challenges faced by the Commission, my good friend, Mr. Young, introduced the House companion bill to S. 325, to ensure that the Commission has adequate time to produce a complete and comprehensive report.
I would like to commend Mr. Young for his continued tireless work on behalf of American Indian and Alaska Natives.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), the dean of the House.
Mr. YOUNG. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I would like to thank Chairman Grijalva and, of course, the ranking member, Mr. Westerman, for the support of scheduling this bill for final passage. I would also like to thank my good friend, Debbie Dingell, for her work. I have been sitting and listening to these bills, these are good bills. So, thank you, I appreciate it.
Mr. Speaker, I introduced this bill on the House side. I would like to thank Congressman Case and Congressman Kahele for their sponsorship and support.
As has been mentioned, S. 325 gives Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children 2 more years to complete their important work and report their findings to Congress.
The Commission is tasked with conducting a comprehensive study of Federal, State, local, and Tribal programs that serve Native children with the goal of developing a system that delivers wraparound service for Native youth.
The Commission was put in place, as I mentioned, in 2016, but was not able to have its first meeting until 2019. Further meetings were delayed by COVID, and as we know, things weren't really going according to scale.
But my good friend, Gloria O'Neill, serves as chairman of the Commission, and I am thankful for her leadership on this issue, and her commitment to ensuring the Commission has enough time to do its important work.
Without this extension, the Commission would be rushing to conclude their regional meetings in order to meet Congress' deadline.
When doing this work, it could have far-reaching effects on Native youth and Native communities. We need to ensure the Commission has enough time to do good work and consider the options.
Also, my colleagues have noticed recently, in a lot of publications, about some of my schools concerning Native students--Native youth, and especially in Canada. Will this Commission also look at that process and see what has happened in the past, and we can avoid what is going to occur in the future?
This is a needed Commission and a needed bill. I urge my colleagues to support S. 325.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I, again, thank the leadership of the dean of the House, Mr. Young, on this, and Senator Murkowski for the Native children.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. 325.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion are postponed.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 130
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