WASHINGTON DC –
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act approved by Congress Friday includes approximately $2.5 billion to create jobs and economic opportunity in Indian Country.
Senate Indian Affairs Committee Chairman Byron Dorgan (D-ND), who proposed including initiatives for Indian Country in the package, 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 provisions contain no “earmarks,” funding instead only previously authorized programs.
The legislation also includes significant new construction bonding authority, beyond the $2.5 billion in job creating investments, to further help spur job creation.
A summary of Indian Country provisions follows:
INDIAN HEALTH CARE
Indian Health Facilities – $415 million
New construction – $227 million
Maintenance and improvements – $100 million
Sanitation Facilities – $68 million
Medical Equipment – $20 million
Indian Health Services – Health Information Technology – $85 million
BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
BIA Office of Indian Programs – $40 million (housing improvement and workforce & training)
BIA Construction – $450 million (schools, roads repair, jails, irrigation, dams)
PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUSTICE
Department of Justice Grants (DOJ) – Indian Jails construction – $225 million (coordinate with BIA, consider violent crime rates and detention space needs)
DOJ Community Oriented Policing Services – tribes eligible to compete – $1 billion program
DOJ Violence Against Women Prosecution Grants – $22.5 million (result of a 10% tribal set-aside)
TRIBAL ROADS AND BRIDGES
Indian Reservation Roads (DOT) – $310 million
Tribal Transit Set-Aside (DOT) – $17.25 million
INDIAN HOUSING
Indian Housing block grants (HUD) – $510 million (conference note to use funding to rehabilitate and improve energy efficiency in houses maintained by Native American housing programs)
EDUCATION
Head Start – $10 million (tribal set-aside)
Early Head Start – tribes eligible for a portion of the $1.1 billion program
Special Education (IDEA) – tribes eligible for a portion of the $12.2 billion program
Impact Aid – language urges targeted funding to military and Indian reservations from the $100 million program
ENERGY AND WATER
Bureau of Reclamation Tribal Water Projects – $60 million for water intake and treatment facilities
Safe Drinking and Clean Water Revolving Funds – $120 million (permissive set-aside)
Tribal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants – $56 million (result of a 2% tribal set-aside)
Weatherization Assistance Program – tribes are eligible to compete for competitive grants under the $5 billion program
OTHER PROGRAMS
Indian Reservation Food Distribution (USDA) – $5 million
Native Elder Nutrition (DHHS) – $3 million (Older Americans Act, Title IV)
BIA Indian Loan Guarantee Program – $10 million
Tribal Community Development Financial Institutions (Treasury) – $10 million
BONDING AUTHORITY FOR TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS
Tribal economic development tax-exempt bonds – $2 billion in bonding authority
Qualified Indian school construction bonds – $400 million 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