$2.5 Billion for Indian Country in Stimulus Package

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act approved by Congress Friday includes approximately $2.5 billion to create jobs and economic opportunity in Indian Country. Below is a summary of Indian Country provisions.

INDIAN HEALTH CARE

· Indian Health Facilities – $415 million

o New construction - $227 million

o Maintenance and improvements - $100 million

o Sanitation Facilities - $68 million

o Medical Equipment - $20 million

· Indian Health Services - Health Information Technology - $85 million

BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS

· BIA Office of Indian Programs - $40 million (housing improvement and workforce & training)

· BIA Construction - $450 million (schools, roads repair, jails, irrigation, dams)

PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUSTICE

· Department of Justice Grants (DOJ) - Indian Jails construction - $225 million (coordinate with BIA, consider violent crime rates and detention space needs)

· DOJ Community Oriented Policing Services – tribes eligible to compete - $1 billion program

· DOJ Violence Against Women Prosecution Grants - $22.5 million (result of a 10% tribal set-aside)

TRIBAL ROADS AND BRIDGES

· Indian Reservation Roads (DOT) – $310 million

· Tribal Transit Set-Aside (DOT) – $17.25 million

INDIAN HOUSING

· Indian Housing block grants (HUD) – $510 million (conference note to use funding to rehabilitate and improve energy efficiency in houses maintained by Native American housing programs)

EDUCATION

· Head Start - $10 million (tribal set-aside)

· Early Head Start - tribes eligible for a portion of the $1.1 billion program

· Special Education (IDEA) – tribes eligible for a portion of the $12.2 billion program

· Impact Aid – language urges targeted funding to military and Indian reservations from the $100 million program

ENERGY AND WATER

· Bureau of Reclamation Tribal Water Projects – $60 million for water intake and treatment facilities

· Safe Drinking and Clean Water Revolving Funds – $120 million (permissive set-aside)

· Tribal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Black Grants - $56 million (result of a 2% tribal set-aside)

· Weatherization Assistance Program – tribes are eligible to compete for competitive grants under the $5 billion program

OTHER PROGRAMS

· Indian Reservation Food Distribution (USDA) – $5 million

· Native Elder Nutrition (DHHS) - $3 million (Older Americans Act, Title IV)

· BIA Indian Loan Guarantee Program - $10 million

· Tribal Community Development Financial Institutions (Treasury) – $10 million

BONDING AUTHORITY FOR TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS

· Tribal economic development tax-exempt bonds - $2 billion in bonding authority

· Qualified Indian school construction bonds - $400 million in bonding authority

OTHER NOTES

· Bill language permits Indian Tribes to contract and compact to build projects and create reservation jobs pursuant to the Indian Self-Determination and Self-Governance Acts