Political Quotes

“I rise to join my good friend, Senator Akaka, in sponsoring the Department of the Interior Tribal Self- Governance Act of 2012. Congress passed the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act in 1975 to set forth a new dynamic in the Federal-tribal relationship. Since then, we have seen many benefits for Indian communities as a result of the Federal Indian policy of self- determination in general and the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act in particular. Indian self-determination is one of the most successful, if not the most successful, Federal Indian policies in the history of our country's relations with Indian Country. The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act was amended over 20 years ago to include the Self-Governance program. Self- Governance became a permanent program in the Department of the Interior in 1994, and it has been a resounding success. Now, as of 2012, hundreds of Indian tribes are participating in the Self-Governance program in one way or another. It comes as no surprise to me, that the Indian tribes can administer these programs on behalf of their own people far better than the Federal government could ever hope to administer them. Nevertheless, after some 18 years, the time has come for the self- governance program to be reviewed and improved.…”