NCAI
Update - July 17, 2001
(Broadcast #369)
Senate Appropriators Add $35.6 Million To Indian Roads Program - The FY2002 Transportation Appropriations bill (S. 1178, S.Rpt. 107-38) recently approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee would restore funding for the Indian Reservation Roads (IRR) program to its authorized level of $275 million.
S. 1178 would set aside $35.6 million for the IRR program, which is authorized under section 1101(a)(8)(A) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. This is in sharp contrast to the House-passed Transportation Appropriations bill (H.R. 2299, H.Rept. 107-108), which would cut the current IRR funding level of $262.3 million by approximately $25 million.
Following Senate passage of the Transportation Appropriations bill, a conference committee will have to negotiate the differences between the House and Senate funding levels. During this process, continued advocacy by tribal leaders and their Congressional supporters will be necessary to preserve the higher Senate funding level for the IRR program.
House Begins Debate on Commerce-Justice-State Appropriations Bill - On July 17, 2001, the House began consideration of its FY2002 Commerce-Justice-State Appropriations bill. The bill (H.R. 2500, H.Rept. 107-139) mirrors the President's budget request for tribal law enforcement programs, as well as for Commerce Department and Small Business Administration programs that affect Indian Country.
The following information is based on the funding levels approve by the House Appropriations Committee. We will report on any relevant changes that are approved during floor action.
Department of Justice
|
(in millions) |
FY2001 Enacted | FY2002 Request | House-Passed Bill |
| U.S. Attorneys | $5.00(and 33 attorneys) | 0 | 0 |
| Jail Construction | $33.93 | $35.19 | $35.19 |
| Tribal Courts | $7.98 | $7.98 | $7.98 |
| Alcohol and Substance Abuse | $4.99 | $4.99 | $4.99 |
| Juvenile Justice | $12.47 | $12.47 | $12.47 |
| Law Enforcement Personnel (COPS Grants) | $40.00 | $31.32 | $31.32 |
The decision to fund the Indian Country Law Enforcement
Initiative in the House bill marks a welcome departure from previous years.
In the past, House appropriators have failed to include funding for tribal law
enforcement programs, instead relying on the Senate to do so and then deferring
to the Senate during conference committee negotiations.
Department of Commerce
|
(in millions) |
FY2001 Enacted | FY2002 Request | House-Passed Bill |
| Economic Development Administration | $412.0 | $335.0 | $335.0 |
| Minority Business Development Agency | $27.0 | $28.4 | $28.4 |
| Public Telecommunications Facilities | $43.5 | $43.5 | $43.5 |
| Technology Opportunities Program | $45.5 | $15.5 | $15.5 |
NCAI recently sent letters to all members of the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Commerce-Justice-State Appropriations Subcommittee to urge them to oppose cuts to the Technology Opportunities Program (TOP), which has funded critically-needed advanced technology projects in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
Small Business Administration
|
(in millions) |
FY2001 Enacted | FY2002 Request | House-Passed Bill |
| Small Business Development Centers | $88.0 | $88.0 | $88.0 |
| One Stop Capital Shop | $3.1 | $3.1 | $3.1 |
| Micro-Loan Technical Assistance | $20.0 | $20.0 | $20.0 |
| New Markets Venture Capital | $37.0 | $0 | $0 |
| BusinessLinc | $7.0 | $0 | $0 |
As requested by the President, FY2001 legislative language that provided funding for New Markets assistance programs was not included in the bill. In addition, the bill does not provide requested language that would have made a specified portion FY2001 New Markets funding available for two years.
The Senate Appropriations Committee will mark up its FY2002 Commerce-Justice-State bill on Thursday, July 19.
For more information, contact NCAI at (202) 466-7767.
###