CAMPBELL INDIAN JOBS, BUSINESS FINANCING, AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE BILLS PASS SENATE
Washington, D.C. - The Senate last night passed three measures introduced by
Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO) to assist Indian tribes deal with
problems related to job training, commercial and business financing, and the
scourge of alcohol, drug abuse and associated mental health problems.
"I am obviously pleased that the Senate has seen fit to pass these measures
which I really believe will help raise living standards in Native communities
in our country", said Campbell, the lone American Indian in the Senate and
Vice Chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs.
The two jobs-related measures approved by the Senate and now heading to the
House of Representatives are the Native American Commercial Driving Training
and Technical Assistance Act (S.1344), and the Indian Finance
Amendments Act (S.2017).
"Of all the problems faced by Native people today two of the more difficult to
hurdle are substance abuse and joblessness. Job training that is based on the
needs of the labor market and tools to encourage Indian businesses to develop
will aid in creating jobs", Campbell remarked.
The third bill, the Native American Alcohol, Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Program Consolidation Act (S.210) will authorize the consolidation and
integration of programs and services that are now uncoordinated and strewn
across the Federal government.
"What we have found is that when the Indian tribes are freed from the
restrictions and bureaucracy of Federal managers, they achieve much better
results and provide much better services for their members. This bill will
do just that for substance abuse and mental health services and will put the
tribes, not the Federal agencies, in the driver's seat", said Campbell.
With some three weeks remaining in the 107th Session of Congress, Campbell
was confident that the House would pass the bills and send them on to the
President for his consideration. "These are solid bills and I have every
confidence that they'll be passed soon", Campbell said.
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CONTACT: Paul Moorehead 202-224-2251
September 18, 2002