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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2000)
FEDERAL BUDGET program is $1,662,200,000 as compared with the FY 2000 appropriation of $1,634,500,000. Indian tribes may be eligible for funding under a number of the programs funded out of this appropriation, either directly or through the states. Of the several programs funded under this heading, seven either include specific set-asides for Indian tribes or make Indian tribes eligible applicants for funding. First, $34 million is made available under the State Prison Grant program to construct jails on Indian reservations. This is the same amount that was available in FY 2000. Second, for the Indian Tribal Courts Initiative program, the FY 2001 request seeks $15 million as compared with $5 million for FY 2000. These funds are to be used to assist tribal governments in the development, enhancement, and continuing operation of tribal judicial systems. Third, of the $59.5 million requested for the Edward Byrne law enforcement grants, the President’s FY 2001 budget requests would set aside $6 million for grants to strengthen criminal and civil legal assistance programs for Indian tribes. Fourth, the FY 2001 budget requests $220 million for grants to combat violence against women. This compares with the FY 2000 appropriation of $206,750,000. Although there is no specific set-aside for Indian tribes, they are eligible to apply for such grants. Fifth, the budget requests $34 million for the Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies program. Again, while there is no set-aside, tribes are eligible to apply for funding under this rather small program. Sixth, the budget includes $21 million for the Indian Country Grant initiative. Of this program funding, $8 million is for demonstration grants on alcohol and crime in Indian country, $5 million is for establishing sexual assault nurse examiner units in Indian country, and $8 million is for a Tribal Youth Mental Health & Behavior Program. Finally, under this heading, of the $75 million being requested for a Zero Tolerance Drug Testing and Intervention Initiative, the request would set aside $10 million for Indian tribes. Community Oriented Police Services. The COPS program is proposed for funding at $1.335 million for FY 2001. This request, if it survives in Congress, would seek an increase of $740 million, or 125 percent over the FY 2000 appropriation of $595 million. The request allocates $45 million for police hires in Indian country as compared with $40 million appropriated in FY 2000. As in past years, this money is to be used to improve law enforcement 24 capabilities on Indian land, both for hiring uniformed officers and for equipping and training new and existing officers. Also under the COPS funding, the budget request would earmark $35 million for “state, tribal, and local DNA laboratories” and for their forensic capabilities. Inasmuch as tribes are unlikely to have DNA laboratories or forensic capabilities, they are unlikely to share in this appropriation. Juvenile Justice Programs. This is another general program administered by OJP. The budget request is for $272 million for FY 2001. Of that amount, $20 million would be allocated for delinquency prevention, control, and system improvement for tribal youth. This compares with $12.5 million made available for the Tribal Youth Program in FY 2000. Energy and Water Development The only provision relevant to Indian tribes in the Energy appropriation budget request is in the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) request. Even though BOR is in the Department of the Interior, its appropriation funding comes out of the Energy appropriation. Bureau of Reclamation For FY 2001, the President’s budget requests $643,058,000 for BOR under the heading “Water and Related Resources.” The statutory language provides that these funds are available: "For management, development, and restoration of water and related natural resources and for related activities, including the operation, maintenance, and rehabilitation of reclamation and other facilities, participation in fulfilling related federal responsibilities to Native American, and related grants to, and cooperative and other agreements with, state and local governments, Indian tribes, and others. ” The BOR budget justification for FY 2001, under the heading Native American Benefits, states: "The FY 2001 request includes programs in support of Native Americans and self-determination efforts. The Bureau of Reclamation is providing significant water and power benefits to Native Americans. Coordination and technical support of Indian water rights settlements and technical assistance to tribes to identify and develop reservation water resources continues ...Whenever appropriate and feasible, project features are constructed by the benefiting tribes. Partnerships, technical assistance, and technical training in water and related resources will further tribal self- determination by providing greater economic benefits. ” In addition to a general appropriation request of $8.5 million for Native American programs, the President’s request includes funding that impacts a number of Indian tribes. Projects that specifically affect our tribal clients included the following: the Southwestern Arizona Water Rights Settlement Act (Tohono O’odham Nation), $5,189,000; a Dakota Tribes Investigation Program (Rosebud Tribe), $187,000; and the Mni Wiconi Project (Rosebud), $29,735,000. Housing and Urban Development Housing Certificate Fund. This general program includes a tenant-based assistance program associated with TANF grants and welfare-to-work efforts. Indian tribes or their tribally designated housing entities are eligible grantees under this program. The overall program is proposed for funding in FY 2001 at $183,456,000. Drug Elimination Grants for Low- Income Housing. The FY 2001 budget requests $345 million for this program, for which Indian tribes and their tribally designated housing entities are eligible grantees. The FY 2000 appropriation was $310 million. Native American Housing Block Grants. The President is requesting only $650 million to fund the Indian housing block grant program for FY 2001. This is a $145 million cut from the FY 2000 appropriation of new obligation of $795 million. Indian Housing Loan Guarantee Fund. The FY 2001 budget requests an appropriation of $6 million for the guaranteed loan program. This is the same as the FY 2000 appropriation. Community Development Block Grants. The FY 2001 budget proposes $4.9 billion for the CDBG program instead of $4.8 billion appropriated in FY 2000. The proposed appropriation language in the President’s budget request states as follows: "That $69 million shall be for flexible grants to Indian tribes notwithstanding section 106(a)(1) of such Act, of which $2 million shall be for the Native American Economic Development Access Center, $3 million shall be available as a grant to the Housing Assistance Council, and $5 million for tribal colleges and universities. ” In addition, another $2 million is set aside for Alaska and Hawaiian Native serving institutions. (Continued on page 25)
