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Bill Clinton on Issues of Concern to Native Americans
Bill Clinton believes that mutual respect for past trusts and
treaties between the federal government and more than 500 tribal
governments is an important prerequisite for improving the lives
of Native Americans both on and off tribal lands.
Republican administrations have given nothing but lip service over
the last twelve years to an affirmation of the government-to-government
relationship between the federal and tribal governments. A Clinton
Administration will give tribal governments more say in the
distribution of federal funds geared toward economic growth,
universal access to quality, affordable health care, and improved
education.
The Clinton Plan for Native Americans
Guaranteeing rights
Economic development
Health care
Education
Environment
Housing
The Clinton Plan
-Guaranteeing rights
Support sovereignty and self-determination of Native American tribal
governments.
Reaffirm the government-to-government relationship bewteen Indian
tribes and the United States by promoting true consultation and
increased tribal authority in the administration of federal funds.
Authorize and direct the Department of Interior to ensure that prior
treaties and trust obligations are respected and fulfilled.
Protect tribal religious and spiritual freedoms: prohibit the
desecration of Native American burial sites and protect access to
sacred sites.
Reform and strengthen the Bureau of Indian Affairs and build a close
working relationship between the Bureau, the White House and the Office
of Intergovernmental Affairs.
Support the sovereign rights of all Indian tribal governments to
resolve local disputes with states in accordance with federal law.
Reaffirm citizenship of all Native Americans and improve voting access.
- Economic Development
Pursue innovative strategies to develop self-sufficient reservation
economies.
Create public-private partnerships to give low-income enterpreneurs
a lift in starting Native American businesses, both on and off
reservations.
Implement a New Enterprise Tax Cut and create community development
banks to further assist small businesses.
Expand the Earned Income Tax Credit to make sure that no one with
a family who works full-time has to raise their children in poverty.
The credit will also be expanded for part-time workers, giving them
greater incentive to work.
Repair roads, highways and bridges on and around reservations
through public and private investment.
- Health Care
Incorporate goals of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act into
Administration plans to provide affordable, quality health care
for all Americans.
Provide a core benefits package for all Americans, including
ambulatory physician care, in-patient hospital care, prescription
drugs, basic mental health services, and preventive care benefits-
including measures to combat and prevent Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
and AIDS in Native American communities.
Keep hospital clinics open longer, particularly in rural areas that
are currently under-served.
Provide incentives for students and mid-career health professionals
to serve in primary care professions on reservations and in urban
Native American health clinics.
Center premiums on a community based rating that does not discriminate
because of "pre-exisiting" health conditions.
Improve long-term care by expanding Medicare and giving older Americans
a choice of home or institutional care, including supporting tribal
nursing homes to give Native American elders choice in kind of care.
Support increased research to study and combat health issues of
particular concern to Native Americans, including AIDS, drug and
alcohol addictions, tuberculosis, and diabetes.
Intensify health education and provide health care access for children
through school-based health clinics.
- Education
Fully fund the Head Start program and support reservation day care
facilities as part of a national child care network.
Set National Standards through a National Examination System that will
prepare our children to compete in the global economy.
Support bilingual and bicultural programs that involve parents, tribal
leaders, and other community figures.
Establish a National Trust Fund out of which every American can
borrow money to go to college, so long as he or she pays it back either
as a small percentage of income over time, or with two years of
community service.
Train non college-bound students through a National Apprenticeship
program to give these individuals the boost they need to compete in
today's economy.
Increase adult literacy for all who need it, by working with states
to make sure that every state has a clear, achievable plan to teach
everyone with a job to read, and earn a General Equivalency Diploma.
- Environment
Provide technical assistance to tribal governments to implement sound
land, water, and mineral use strategies that protect the environment
while encouraging economic growth in Native American communities.
Increase energy efficiency in Native American communities and promote
alternative energy sources as part of a national energy strategy.
- Housing
Implement policies that favor home ownership for all Native Americans.
Increase the Federal Housing Authority mortgage guarantees to 95% to
assist first-time home buyers and boost the construction industry.
The Clinton Record in Arkansas
Arkansas recently adopted legislation prohibiting the desecration
of Native American burials and the commerical trade or display of human
remains and sacred objects.
Bill Clinton appointed three Native Americans to his state steering
committees, including the Governor of the Chickasaw Nation and the Chief of
the Choctaw Nation.
As Governor, Clinton named a lifetime voting member of the Indian
Inter-Tribal Association of Arkansas to be his liaison for Indian affairs.
Bill Clinton has been endorsed for president by more than a dozen
leaders from New Mexico's Native American communities.