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| Wilson Secures $1 Million For SIPI Dental Clinic |
June 21, 2001 |
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Interior Appropriations bill includes increased funding for Indian Arts Museum and $2.1 billion to implement the national wildland fire plan
WASHINGTON, DC –The House of Representatives passed legislation today that includes Congresswoman Heather Wilson’s request for $1 million for the Southwestern Polytechnic Institute (SIPI) Dental Clinic in Albuquerque. The Interior Appropriations bill (HR 2217) also includes $4.49 million for the Institute of American Indian Art (IAIA), an increase of nearly $400,000 from last year.
“The SIPI dental clinic provides services to Albuquerque’s 33,000 Urban Indians and this funding will help to ensure they are able to continue to provide this critical service,” said Wilson. “In addition to the important funding for the SIPI clinic and the IAIA this bill provides millions of dollars of funding that is critical to protecting and maintaining public lands across New Mexico.”
The SIPI Dental Clinic currently serves Isleta Pueblo, Santa Ana Pueblo, Jemez Pueblo, Zia Pueblo, the Alamo Band of Navajos and eligible Albuquerque urban Indians. The Clinic provides dental services to approximately 5,000 patients per year. The clinic started in 1971 as a training facility and later evolved into its current function as an essential health care facility.
Specifically HR 2217 includes:
* Land Conservation, Preservation and Infrastructure Improvement
Provides $1.32 billion in funding for the conservation initiative started in title VIII of the fiscal year 2001 Interior bill: this is $121 million more than last year and $64 million over the President’s request.
* Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT)
Provides $50 million above the President’s request to provide total funding of $200 million, the same as last year’s level.
* Responding to Emergency Wildfire Needs
The bill provides total funding of $2.1 billion to implement the national wildland fire plan.
* National Energy Policy
The bill provides $1.796 billion for energy programs, an increase of $294 million above the budget request.
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