Rep. Luján Votes for Investments in Indian Country, Clean Water Infrastructure PDF Print E-mail
October 29, 2009

Washington, DC - Today Rep. Ben Ray Luján voted for the H.R. 2996, Interior-Environment Appropriations Act, which makes key investments in protecting the environment, conservation, climate change research, and other priorities. The legislation makes significant investments in water infrastructure and environmental priorities in New Mexico. The Act also includes substantial funding increases for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) programs, totaling approximately $6.8 billion. Such programs include Bureau of Indian Education programs and law enforcement funding which are critical to the development of tribal nations across the country. The legislation passed by a vote of 247 to 178.

"This legislation takes significant steps toward providing clean water for rural communities in New Mexico and investing in Native American communities," said Rep. Luján.

The Act has an additional $50 million for Tribal Public Safety and Justice, including $20 million for Law Enforcement, $5 million for Tribal Courts, and $25 million for Public Safety Construction.

"Because of the severity of the public safety crisis in Indian Country, I urged my colleagues to support the bill's inclusion of additional $50 million for Tribal Public Safety in the final FY 2010 Interior Appropriations bill, "said Rep. Luján.

Rep. Luján wrote letters to the Interior Appropriation Conference Committee, urging them to keep the $6.8 billion in funding for all BIA programs, including the substantial increase in Tribal Safety funding.

This bill also included over $3 million dollars for specific projects in the Third Congressional District and over $9 million dollars for New Mexico specific projects.

Projects in the Interior-Environment Appropriations Act for the Third Congressional District

Project Name Amount
City of Portales Wastewater treatment plant (Senate Request) $300,000
The Pueblo of San Felipe Wastewater Infrastructure - The Pueblo will utilize this grant to connect approximately 200 homes currently serviced by septic tanks and drain fields to its comprehensive wastewater system. $400,000
La Cienega Area of Critical Concern / El Camino Real De Tierra Adento National Historic Trail - would ensure protection of  280 acres of Canyon Ranch on the South Rim of the Santa Fe River Canyon and provide greater public access opportunities to the area. $3,000,000
Navajo Technical College (Senate Request) $200,000




 
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