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OCR Page 1 of 23THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES INITIATIVES FOR
NATIVE AMERICANS RELATED TO ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH CARE, AND EDUCATION
August 6, 1998
Today, the President will attend a conference, sponsored by the White House and fifteen federal
agencies, entitled "Building Economic Self-Determination in Indian Communities," and will
announce several initiatives aimed at improving economic self-sufficiency, increasing
educational opportunities, and providing health care to Native Americans. The initiatives focus
on: improving student achievement in reading and math for grades K-12; assessing the
technology infrastructure needs of Indian country; coordinating existing federal economic
development programs for Native Americans; creating a one-stop mortgage center in Indian
country to streamline the mortgage process; creating technology-based jobs in Indian country;
and adjusting the state funding from the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to reflect
accurately states' populations of Native American children. In addition, the President will call
on Congress to pass legislation to elevate the Director of the Indian Health Service to an
Assistant Secretary.
Creating Educational Opportunities for Native American Students
Native American Education Executive Order. The President will sign an executive order at
the conference which is designed to improve the academic performance of American Indian and
Alaska Native students in grades K-12. The order focuses special attention on the following five
goals: (1) improving student achievement in reading and mathematics; (2) increasing high
school completion and post-secondary attendance rates; (3) reducing the influence of
long-standing factors that impede educational performance, such as poverty and substance abuse;
(4) creating strong, safe, and drug-free school environments conducive to learning; and (5)
expanding the use of science and educational technology. This order is structured to address
Indian educational needs through participation at the federal, regional, and local levels. At the
federal level, the order establishes an Interagency Task Force to plan initiatives, develop an
education resource guide, and assist in implementing a comprehensive research agenda on Indian
education. At the regional level, the order mandates a series of regional forums to identify
promising practices. Finally, at the local level, the order establishes pilot sites that will receive
comprehensive technical assistance in support of the goals of the order.
Expanding Economic Development in Indian Country
Executive Directive for Economic Development in American Indian and Alaska Native
Communities. The President will announce a directive with three components:
Technology Infrastructure Study. The President will direct the Department of
Commerce, in collaboration with the Department of the Interior and tribal
governments, to issue a report within nine months on the technology
infrastructure needs within Indian country, including distance learning facilities,
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