legislative update, 5/2/2001

< legislative update, 5/2/2001

NCAI Update - July 19, 2001

(Broadcast #370)

Senate Appropriations Committee Approves FY 2002 Agriculture Appropriations Bill - The Senate Appropriations Committee on July 17 approved its FY 2002 Agriculture Appropriations bill, which in large part contains the same funding levels as the House-passed version and the FY 2001 Agriculture Appropriations Act. This Legislative Update summarizes funding levels for programs of particular interest to Indian Country.

($ in millions)	FY 2001 Enacted	FY 2002 Budget Request	House Bill H.R. 2330 H.Rept. 107-116	Senate Bill S. 1191 S.Rept. 107-41
Extension Services Tribal Colleges Extension Services Indian Reservation Agents	$3.3 $2.0	$3.3 $2.0	$3.3 $2.0	$3.3 $2.0
Tribal Colleges Endowment Fund 1994 Institutions Equity Grants Agriculture Research Initiative Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions	$7.1 $1.5 $1.0 $3.0	$7.1 $1.5 $1.0 $3.0	$7.1 $1.5 $1.0 $3.0	$7.1 $1.5 $1.0 $3.0
Rural and Economic Development Rural Community Advancement Program Native American Set-Aside Water/Sewer Grants - AK Rural & Native Villages Enterprise Zone/Empowerment Community Grants Circuit Rider Program Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants/Loans Rural Development Loan Fund - Tribes Indian Tribal Land Acquisition Loans	$24.0 $20.0 $15.0 $9.5 $26.9 ($400m loans) $2.0 $2.0	$24.0 $20.0 $15.0 not available $26.9 ($400m loans) $1.7 $2.0	$24.0 $20.0 $15.0 $11.0 $26.9 ($400m loans) $1.7 $2.0	$24.0 $24.0 $15.0 $9.9 $51.9 ($400m loans) $1.7 $2.0
Food Programs Food Stamps (includes Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations) WIC	$20,100.0 $4,000.0	$22,000.0 $4,100.0	$22,000.0 $4,100.0	$21,100.0 $4,200.0

Within the $24 million in the Senate bill for the Rural Community Advancement Program set-aside, the following programs would be funded: rural business opportunity grants ($1 million); community facilities grants for tribal college improvements ($4 million); drinking water and waste disposal systems for tribes ($16 million); rural business enterprise grants ($3 million); and transportation technical assistance ($250,000). The House-passed bill would provide $4 million for community facilities grants to tribal colleges, $250,000 for transportation technical assistance, and an unspecific amount for water and waste disposal grants and loans to tribes.

The Senate bill also would allocate $3 million of the amount provided to Food Stamps for the purchase of bison for the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) from Native American producers and cooperatives. In addition, the Committee report directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct an assessment of the facility and equipment needs of the FDPIR, citing a need for infrastructure development.

Finally, the Senate bill would provide an additional $25 million over the budget request and House bill for the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program for grants and loans to finance broadband transmission and local dial-up Internet services to rural areas.

Letters Needed Regarding Consultation on Political Appointees - NCAI recently sent correspondence to the White House urging the Administration to adhere to the Executive Order on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments of November 6, 2000, as it proceeds with the political appointment process and considers its staffing configurations. We recommend that tribal leaders consider sending similar correspondence at this time requesting attention to Executive Order #13175 on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments and asking the Administration to meet with tribes and tribal organizations regarding their plans with regard to the Executive Order on Consultation.

For further information, contact NCAI at (202) 466-7767.

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