The Indian Economic Stimulus Package

The U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations just voted to provide $ 2.8 billion in funding to help resuscitate the national economy.  Pressed by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and led by Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-HI), the Appropriations Committee also added $2.8 billion in direct funding for Indian tribes and tribal programs.   The Senate Finance Committee is handling the tax, bonds, and entitlement provisions which include Tribal Economic Development Bonds, Clean Renewable Energy Bonds, the elimination of cost sharing requirements for Indian health care providers, increased access for Indians to Medicaid and the Childrens’ Health Insurance Program, and extra Tribal TANF funding.

Here is a rundown of the Tribal spending provsions:

INDIAN HEALTH CARE
• Indian Health Facilities – $410 million
     • New construction – $135 million
     • Maintenance and repairs – $155 million
     • Sanitation Facilities – $100 million
     • Medical Equipment – $20 million
• Indian Health Services – $135 million
     • Contract health care – $50 million
     • Health Information Technology activities – $85 million

PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUSTICE
• Department of Justice Grants (DOJ) – $300 million
     • Indian Jails construction – $250 million
     • Tribal courts program – $25 million
     • Indian Alcohol Recovery program – $25 million
• BIA Indian Jails repair (Interior) – $25 million

INDIAN SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION
• Tribal and BIA new schools construction – $132 million
• Tribal and BIA schools repair and improvement – $35 million
• BIA School Modernization (Dept. of Education) – $160 million

TRIBAL ROADS AND BRIDGES
• BIA roads improvement – $150 million
• Indian Reservation Roads (DOT) – $320 million
• Tribal Transit Set-Aside (DOT) – $16.8 million

INDIAN WATER PROJECTS
• Bureau of Reclamation Tribal Water Projects – $274 million (approximate)
• BIA irrigation construction and repair – $40 million
• BIA dams improvement – $25 million
• Safe Drinking and Clean Water Revolving Funds – $120 million (the language “permits” the Secretary to fund the tribal set-aside under these revolving funds)

INDIAN HOUSING
• Indian Housing block grants (HUD) – $510 million
• BIA Housing Improvement Program – $20 million

OTHER
• Indian Reservation Food Distribution (USDA) – $5 million
• BIA major facilities improvement and repair – $115 million
• BIA workforce training – $20 million
• Tribal Community Development Financial Institutions (Treasury) – $20 million
• Indian Loan Guarantee Program (Interior) – $10 million