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)