$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
  
• New construction - $227 million
• Maintenance and improvements — $100 million
• Sanitation Facilities - $68 million
• 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