Haley Stevens: “I think this is a necessary change in the provision that is in the Dole amendment dealing with Indians, Indian tribes…”

“I think this is a necessary change in the provision that is in the Dole amendment dealing with Indians, Indian tribes and tribal organizations. It will provide in Alaska there be a specific regional framework for block granting welfare funds. We think that is necessary to meet the circumstances of our State. After all, it is one-fifth the size of the United States. The administrative costs of just having the welfare assistance programs administered from Juneau are almost the same as administering the whole east coast of the United States from Washington, DC. This amendment would apply only to Alaska and specify that there are 12 Alaska Native regional nonprofit corporations that are the only native organizations in Alaska which would be eligible to receive family subsistence block grants directly under the concepts of this bill. I think that this will limit the eligible organizations.”