{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398808", "Youngs Native Workforce Development Legislation Moves to Senate", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0 \u2013 In the final days of the 114th Congress, Alaska Congressman Don Young is working double-time with Senator Lisa Murkowski to secure final passage and enactment of H.R. 329, the Indian Employment, training and Related Services Consolidation Act. The bipartisan measure \u2013 which works to empower tribes and tribal organizations to offer workforce development initiatives to Alaska Native and American Indian communities across the nation \u2013 passed the House unanimously yesterday and is awaiting consideration in the Senate. \r\nThe legislation would amend existing law (P.L. 102-477) to improve and make permanent the Tribal 477 Program \u2013 a successful native workforce development demonstration program established by Congress in 1992. The 477 Program allows tribes to combine employment, childcare, and job training funding from a variety of federal sources and conduct consolidated, comprehensive reporting. \r\n\r\nCongressman Don Young Speaking in Favor of Native Workforce Development Bill (Click here to watch).\r\n\u201cThe 477 Program has enabled tribes to run innovative programs and saves both the tribes and federal government money and resources,\u201d Congressman Young said yesterday on the House floor.\u00a0\u201cThe 477 Program embodies tribal self-determination by allowing tribes to provide opportunities tailored to the unique needs of their communities.\u00a0 Significant education and training needs exist in Indian country, and the 477 Program has a proven track record of success.\u00a0 This is particularly true in Alaska where Cook Inlet Tribal Council has pioneered a smart model that provides holistic services, all under one roof, for individuals and families.\u201d\r\nIn addition to permanently authorizing the Tribal 477 Program, the bill makes improvements to accounting procedures and reporting mechanisms to uphold the original intent of the program, ensure that tribes are treated fairly, and set a foundation for participants continued success.\r\n\u201cAfter four years of work and engagement on this issue, I\u2019m extremely excited to see this bill moving forward,\u201d Young said. \u201cWe\u2019ve overcome a number of major hurdles and obstacles to even reach this point, and I look forward to working with Senator Murkowski to get it across the finish line. While there are no guarantees in the lawmaking process, especially with the limited window to act and some of the procedural hurdles we\u2019re seeing, I\u2019m feeling optimistic. I must commend so many, including members on both sides of the aisle in the House; the 477 Tribal Work Group \u00ad\u2013 whose advocacy was paramount throughout this process; and Senator Murkowski \u2013 for leading the charge in the Senate and helping us make this final push a reality.\u201d\r\nH.R. 329 is supported by the 477 Tribal Work Group, which is comprised of tribes that currently operate 477 plans, as well as many individual tribes around the country.\u00a0 Currently 18 Alaska Native tribes and tribal organizations participate in the Tribal 477 Program, including Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (the first to operate a 477 plan in the nation) and Cook Inlet Tribal Council.\r\nSenator Murkowski sponsored and passed similar legislation to H.R. 329 in the Senate on July 15, 2016. \r\n   \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398808"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0820638854056597, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}