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February 5, 2007
Contact: Allyson Ivins Groff, 202-226-9019
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Bush Administration's Fiscal Year 2008 budget proposal for Native American communities both debilitates the basic needs of sovereign Indian nations and stunts the creation of opportunities in Indian Country by failing to allocate sufficient funding for adequate health care, safe drinking water, functioning sewer systems, secure roads, and other infrastructure repairs, charged U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV). Rahall is Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, which has jurisdiction over Indian affairs.
"Founded on treaties and a trust responsibility between Native Americans and the U.S. government, our relationship with Indian Country is one we have to honor and respect," said Rahall.
"Yet, funding for the Bureau of Indian Affairs has been on a downward spiral under this Administration - decreasing by $50 million since FY 2006, while at the same time military spending is increasing dramatically. Instead of escalating funding in foreign lands, I would much rather see an escalation of resources for the health and safety of our first citizens."
While 40 percent of American Indians are currently underhoused, the Bush Administration has terminated the Housing Improvement Program - a vital initiative that provides native families with money to repair a leaky roof, or provide heat and electricity for their loved ones. Sanitation funding has also been slashed in the President's budget, failing to take into account the long-standing backlog of needs for basic sanitation facilities and clean drinking water.
Compounding this is the fact the latest budget proposal fails to make a financial commitment to improving the state of native health care. Nearly 70 percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives live in urban areas - yet the President has once again zeroed out funding for the Urban Indian Health Program, which will leave many with no access to essential health care services.
"It is unacceptable that, year after year, the Bush Administration fails to provide access to better health care for families in Native communities. It is essential that we live up to our promise and provide better access to health care for Indians, which is why I intend to move the Indian Health Care Improvement Act as the first Indian affairs bill reported from the House Natural Resources Committee this year," Rahall said.
The FY 2008 budget does propose a new program, the Safe Indian Communities Initiative, to combat the crisis level of methamphetamine abuse in Indian Country by increasing law enforcement, providing improved training to halt production and distribution of the drug, and raising the level of staffing for detention centers. Unfortunately, the Administration provides no funding for treatment and rehabilitation, another critical component in the fight to end methamphetamine addiction.
"While certainly a laudable undertaking, the President's budget allocates only $16 million to do the job! While it seems to realize there is a problem that needs attention, it is clear that this Administration cannot bring itself to do the work to fully address it."
"Sadly, this latest budget proposal leaves much to be desired for meeting the real and pressing needs of our first Americans," Rahall said.
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