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STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT: Signing of the "Omnibus Indian Advancement Act"

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                              THE WHITE HOUSE

                       Office of the Press Secretary

_________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                           December 27, 2000


                        STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT


     Today I am pleased to sign into law H.R. 5528, the "Omnibus Indian
Advancement Act."  This Act is the product of lengthy negotiations among
the Congress, my Administration, tribal governments and other interested
parties.  I commend all of the participants in these negotiations for their
work in producing a bill that will benefit many Indian communities.

     This Act emphasizes my Administration's commitment to
self-determination and self-governance of American Indian, Alaska Native,
and Native Hawaiian people.  In particular, the Act establishes an American
Indian Education Foundation to encourage and accept private gifts to help
further the education of Indian children attending Bureau of Indian Affairs
schools in grades K-12; offers increased economic development opportunities
for Indian tribes; authorizes new activities to help support and improve
tribal governance, including the new Native Nations Institute at the Morris
K. Udall Foundation; provides for the settlement of an historic land case
in California; restores and reestablishes the Federal and trust
relationship to two separate tribal groups; improves housing assistance to
and affordable housing for Native Americans and Native Hawaiians; and
includes other benefits and authorities for various American Indian, Alaska
Native, and Native Hawaiian communities.

     Section 1104 of this bill raises a constitutional concern insofar as
it could be read to interfere with my constitutional authority to determine
when and whether to recommend legislation to the Congress.  I will
therefore treat it as precatory.

     This Act demonstrates our commitment to providing more support to the
aboriginal peoples of this Nation.  I am pleased to sign it into law.


                              WILLIAM J. CLINTON


THE WHITE HOUSE,
    December 27, 2000.


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