Wednesday July 16, 2008
Senate Accepts
Domenici-Backed Amendment with $2.0 Billion for Indian Water, Public Safety
& Health Needs
Indian Emergency Fund Designated in Global AIDS/HIV Legislation
Source: U.S. Senator Pete Domenici
The Senate accepted the $2.0 billion amendment on a voice vote, adding it to the Lantos-Hyde U.S. Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 (S.2731). The Senate should pass the overall bill this week.
Domenici is an original cosponsor to the measure, offered by Senators John Thune (R-S.D.) and Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.). It is also cosponsored by Indian Affairs Committee chairman Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and Senators Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) and John Tester (D-Mont.).
S.2731 authorizes the United States government to provide $50 billion to foreign countries to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. The Thune amendment redirects $2.0 billion of funding to public safety and tribal water needs. During final negotiations on the amendment, it was agreed that $250 million of the bill would go to the Indian Health Service for Indian health care and facilities.
“We worked together on a bipartisan basis to move this plan for the Indian people. It is a good plan written to address emergency needs in Indian Country. While it does not specifically single out funding for New Mexico tribes, I believe the availability of these will benefit them,” said Domenici who serves on the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.
“This AIDS/HIV bill is for a worthy global humanitarian cause, but I believe we are taking the right path to make money available here at home for the Indian people,” he said.
The amendment cosponsored by Domenici would authorize:
WATER PROJECTS ($1.0 billion)
- 50 percent for water projects;
- 45 percent for implementation of water supply projects approved by Congress as part of Indian water settlement;
- 5 percent for safe drinking water and sanitation.
PUBLIC SAFETY ($750 million)
- 50 percent for detention facility construction, rehabilitation, and placement through the Department of Justice;
- 40 percent for the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Public Safety and Justice Account, which funds tribal police and tribal courts;
- 5 percent for investigations and prosecution of crimes in Indian Country by the FBI and U.S. Attorneys;
- 3 percent for the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Program for Indian and Alaska Native Programs; and,
- 2 percent for cross-deputization or other cooperative agreements between state, local and tribal governments.
INDIAN HEALTH ($250 million)
- 50 percent for Indian Health Service facilities; and
- 50 percent for contract Indian health care shortages.
The House of Representatives approved a companion global HIV/AIDS bill in April on a broad bipartisan basis. Work will now turn to keeping the Indian emergency fund amendment in the bill that is eventually sent to President Bush.
Contact:
Chris Gallegos
(202) 224-7082