On April 25, 1996, President Clinton approved leg1siation extending the date that a Final Rule for the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 (P.L. 93-638) be published in the Federal Register. The date required by the Indian Self-Determination Act Amendments of 1994 (P.L. 103-413) was April 25, 1996. This legislation provides for a 60-day extension and sets a new publication date of June 25, 1996 for a rule, Ada E. Deer, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs announced.
A Notice of Proposed Rule Making was published in the Federal Register on January 24, 1996 (61 F.R. 2038). This publication provided for a 60-day comment period which ended on March 25, 1996. Over 80 comments were received from the tribes and the general public.
"This extension will allow the BIA and IHS the time required to properly analyze the comments received," said Ms. Deer. "Now we can be assured that the necessary changes to this Rule are made in a considered manner without undue haste.
The BIA, IHS and tribal representatives will be making recommendations to the Secretaries of Department of the Interior and Department of Health and Human Services during this time. A Final Rule is expected to be published in mid-June 1996.
For further information on the joint regulation or the extension, contact Ms. Merry Elrod, IHS Office of Tribal Activities, (301) 443- 6958, or Mr. James J. Thomas, Division of Self-Determination Services, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Room 4627, 1849 C. Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20240, (202) 208-3708.
