Bill Aims to Improve Lives of Native American Children

FAIRBANKS — A bill to improve the lives of Native American children passed Congress unanimously last week, according to a news release from the office of U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), one of the bill’s sponsors.

The Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act creates a commission to examine social issues affecting Native children, including poverty, child abuse, domestic violence, crime and substance abuse.

The panel, named after Native leaders from Alaska and North Dakota, will make recommendations for improvement.