|
|
RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT PACKAGE INCLUDES
MAJOR PUSH TO CREATE JOBS, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN INDIAN COUNTRY
U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
Press Release
Condensed by Native Village
WASHINGTON, DC - The American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act approved by Congress
includes nearly $2,500,000,000 to create
jobs and economic opportunity in Indian Country.
Senator Byron
Dorgan (D-ND) proposed the budget
initiatives. He said the legislation represents “a long over-due
and urgently needed investment in Indian
Country. Indian reservations have faced 50%
unemployment rates and double digit poverty
rates for decades. These initiatives are
targeted to help create jobs in the short term
where they are most in need. In addition, the
initiatives will also help promote long term
economic opportunity and activity.”
The legislation also includes new
construction beyond the
$2,500,000,000 in job creating investments and
to spur further job creation
A summary of Indian Country provisions follows
|
INDIAN HEALTH CARE
• Indian Health Facilities –
$415,000,000
• New
construction –
$227,000,000
•
Maintenance and improvements –
$100,000,000
•
Sanitation Facilities –
$68,000,000
•
Medical Equipment –
$20, 000,000
• Indian Health Services – Health Information
Technology -
$8,000,000
|
BUREAU OF INDIAN
AFFAIRS
• BIA Office of Indian Programs –
$40,000,000
(housing improvement and workforce &
training)
• BIA Construction –
$450,000,000
(schools, roads repair, jails, irrigation,
dams)
|
|
PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUSTICE
• Department of Justice Grants (DOJ) – Indian
Jails construction -
$225,000,000
(coordinate
with BIA, consider violent crime rates and
detention space needs)
• DOJ Community Oriented Policing Services –
tribes eligible to compete -
$1,000,000,000
• DOJ Violence Against Women Prosecution Grants
–
$225,000,000
(result of a
10%
tribal set-aside)
|
TRIBAL ROADS AND BRIDGES
• Indian Reservation Roads (DOT) –
$310,000,000
• Tribal Transit Set-Aside (DOT) –
$17,250,000
|
|
INDIAN HOUSING
• Indian Housing block grants (HUD) –
$510,000,000 (conference note to use funding to
rehabilitate and improve energy efficiency in
houses maintained by Native American housing
programs)
|
EDUCATION
• Head Start –
$10,000,000
(tribal set-aside)
• Early Head Start – tribes eligible for a
portion of the
$1,100,000,000
program
• Special Education (IDEA) – tribes eligible
for a portion of the
$12,200,000,000
program
• Impact Aid – language urges targeted funding
to military and Indian reservations from the
$100,000,000
program
|
|
ENERGY AND WATER
• Bureau of Reclamation Tribal Water Projects
–
$60,000,000 for water intake and treatment
facilities
• Safe Drinking and Clean Water Revolving Funds
–
$120,000,000
(permissive set-aside)
• Tribal Energy Efficiency and Conservation
Black Grants –
$56,000,000
(result of a
2%
tribal set-aside)
• Weatherization Assistance Program – tribes are
eligible to compete for competitive grants under
the
$5,000,000 program
|
OTHER PROGRAMS
• Indian Reservation Food Distribution (USDA)
–
$5,000,000
• Native Elder Nutrition (DHHS) –
$3,000,000
(Older Americans Act, Title IV)
• BIA Indian Loan Guarantee Program –
$10,000,000
• Tribal Community Development Financial
Institutions (Treasury) –
$10,000,000
|
|
BONDING AUTHORITY FOR TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS
• Tribal economic development tax-exempt bonds –
$2,000,000,000 in bonding authority
• Qualified Indian school construction bonds –
$400,000,000 in bonding authority
|
OTHER NOTES
• Bill language permits Indian Tribes to
contract and compact to build projects and
create reservation jobs pursuant to the Indian
Self-Determination and Self-Governance Acts |
http://indian.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=32de1b92-b63b-4a34-af7a-7679d41ca9a0&Month=2&Year=2009
 Next |