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Domenici Seeks Full Funding for $2.0 Billion Emergency Plan for Indians

from the Office of Senator Pete V. Domenici

Monday, November 24, 2008

-- Five-Year Plan Would Provide $1.0 Billion for Tribal Water Supply Projects --

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pete Domenici today joined a bipartisan push to have room made in the FY2010 federal budget to fully fund a new initiative he cosponsored to provide $2.0 billion in emergency funding for public safety, water projects and health care for Native American populations.

Domenici, who serves on the Senate’s Budget and Indian Affairs committees, on Tuesday signed a letter to President-Elect Barack Obama seeking the White House’s recommendation to fund in FY2010 the Lantos-Hyde U.S. Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008.

Domenici was an original cosponsor on the legislation that created a $2.0 billion emergency fund to address dire needs in Indian country over five years. The plan became law in July.

“I won’t be in the Senate next year to actively fight for this funding, but it is still important to stress now that these resources must be made available to address emergency needs among the Indian people. I have every confidence that we can address some of these needs in New Mexico if the new administration and new Congress begin to fully fund this emergency plan,” Domenici said.

Domenici was among the signatories on the letter to President-Elect Obama, which cites the findings in the 2008 Interior Department’s Shubnum Report that clearly outlines the funding deficiencies for major priority needs among Native American peoples—including law enforcement, health care and water.

The Lantos-Hyde bill provision creating the emergency fund authorizes $1.0 billion for Indian water projects, $750 million for Indian Country law enforcement and $250 million for Indian health care.

The letter recommends $400 million as a first-year installment for this work in FY2010. It also points out that this should be “over and above any amounts already assumed in the baseline budget for American Indian and Alaska Native law enforcement, health programs, and water settlements.” The letter was signed by Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), Senators Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), John Tester (D-Mont.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Domenici.

“This strong $2.0 billion initiative was put together on a bipartisan basis to try to make more progress on improving the lives of the Indian people, as is Congress’ trust responsibility,” Domenici said. “For New Mexico, I would also hope the new Congress will act expeditiously on the Navajo, Aamodt and Abeyta water settlement bills that need to be in place for our tribes to begin benefitting from these resources.”

Of the $1.0 billion authorized for water projects, 50 percent would fund water projects and 45 percent would be used to implement water supply projects approved by Congress as part of an Indian water settlement. The remainder would be used for safe drinking water and sanitation work.

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