Ted Stevens: “First, I'd like to thank the distinguished managers of the bill, Senator Kennedy and Senator Kassebaum, for offering an…”

“First, I'd like to thank the distinguished managers of the bill, Senator Kennedy and Senator Kassebaum, for offering an amendment on my behalf authorizing Alaska Natives to participate in education reform efforts. At my request, Senators Harkin and Specter included $200,000 for that purpose in the fiscal year 1994 Labor/Health appropriations bill. However, I was informed earlier this month that the Department of Education would not spend the money because it did not believe it had the authority. This amendment grants that legal authority. Under the original version of the Education 2000 bill, only Indians from the lower 48 States were eligible for grant moneys under the Indian set-aside. The amendment the managers offered will now treat Alaska Eskimos, Indians, and Aleuts on the same basis as Indians in the lower 48. Many of the problems we face in this country--domestic violence, drug abuse, crack babies, random shootings, child abuse--are a result of the decay in the moral fabric of our families and communities.”