WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, today issued the following statement after the Senate passed legislation to provide Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 funding for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), the Indian Health Service (IHS), and Indian housing.
“This appropriations bill demonstrates the United States’ commitment to native communities and honors the unique relationship that Indian tribes maintain with the federal government,” said Hoeven. “This bill provides strong funding for tribal-related programs and key federal agencies that serve Indian Country.”
Hoeven supported the following provisions in this legislation that are important to Indian Country:
Funding to implement the IRRIGATE Act for Indian Irrigation Systems:
$10 million dollars from the Indian Irrigation Fund are to be made available for use by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to implement the Irrigation Rehabilitation and Renovation for Indian Tribal Governments and their Economies (IRRIGATE) Act, which authorizes construction and maintenance of Indian irrigation systems.
Funding for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education including:
Public safety and justice programs within the BIA.
Economic development programs within the BIA.
Education programs, including school operations.
Full funding of Contract Support Costs.
Funding for the Indian Health Service including:
The Indian health profession program. This funding includes expansion of the Indians into Medicine program to four sites. These amounts include funding for the Quentin N. Burdick American Indians into Nursing Program and American Indians into Psychology Program, both of which are key programs administered in North Dakota.
Hospitals and health clinics.
Mental health programs.
Alcohol and substance use disorder programs.
Purchased/referred care.
Full funding of Contract Support Costs.
Funding for Indian Housing Programs at the Department of Housing and Urban Development including:
The Native American Housing Block Grants program.
Rental assistance and associated administrative fees for Tribal HUD–VASH.
Competitive housing programming grants.
The Indian Community Development Block Grant.
Funding for Native American Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) at the Department of the Treasury including:
Financial assistance, technical assistance, training, and outreach programs by qualified Native American CDFI’s.
Waiver of the funding match requirement for Native American CDFI’s.
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