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Tuesday, December 9, 2003

The House voted 242 to 176 to approve the omnibus appropriations act that calls for changes in how Alaska Native tribes receive federal funding and services.

The 1,182-page bill includes funding for 11 government agencies. Money for Indian programs is scattered throughout the package, whose cost is put at anywhere from $328 billion to $820 billion.

The provision affecting Alaska Natives creates the Alaska Rural Justice and Law Enforcement Commission. A panel of tribal, state and federal officials would be charged with making recommendations about a "unified law enforcement system, court system, and system of local laws or ordinances for Alaska Native villages and communities of varying sizes including the possibility of first, second, and third class villages with different powers."

Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) was responsible for the language, which replaces a rider that would have denied federal funding to tribal courts and justice systems. The new provision denies funding to tribes with less than 25 members and those located with a list of seven municipalities and boroughs. It also requires a General Accounting Office (GAO) study on how Alaska Natives receive federal funds.

A separate item treats Alaska Native corporations as tribes even though they are not tribes under the executive order on government-to-government relationships. The bill states that the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) should consult with the corporations.

The bill is to go before the Senate today but is likely to be delayed until the chamber returns for business on January 20.

Get the Story:
Stevens seeks GAO review (The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner 12/8)
House Passes $328 Billion Spending Bill (The Washington Post 12/9)
House Votes, Fights and Then Adjourns (The New York Times 12/9)
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Get the Bill:
MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2004, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES (House Rpt.108-401)

Related Stories:
Massive spending bill likely to be delayed till '04 (12/8)
Massive appropriations bill holds surprises (12/4)
Tribes lobbying against 'harmful' appropriations riders (11/10)
Stevens unapologetic in speech to Alaska Natives (10/27)
Stevens remarks on Alaska Natives draw fire (10/7)

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