FY 09 HHS- Annual Tribal Budget Consultation Session–February 22, 2008 Letter to Senator Conrad and Senator Gregg of the Budget Committee for the U.S. Senate, from the Senate Indian Affairs Committee of Views and Estimates expressing recommendations for the FY2009

Authors: United States Senate
Publication Year: 2008
Last Updated: 2016-03-04 14:05:55
Journal: United States Congressional Library
Keywords: SCIA, Senate Committee of Indian Affairs, FY 2009, Federal responsibilities, trust responsibilities

Short Abstract:

Letter responding to request for the Senate Indian Affairs Committee's views and estimates on the President's Fiscal Year 2009 budget request for Indian programs. 

Abstract:

This letter responds to your request for the Senate Indian Affairs Committee's views and estimates on the President's Fiscal Year 2009 budget request for Indian programs. This Committee shares the President's commitment to reducing the federal deficit and balancing the budget. However, the government-to-government relationship between the United States and Indian tribal governments and the federal trust responsibility require support adequately reflecting these obligations. Moreover, our oversight of conditions and issues facing Indian Country has enabled us also to see significant challenges. Many, if not most, American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments face inadequate access to health care, economic opportunity, education, housing, and law enforcement services, all key elements of healthy communities. Thus, we are concerned about the potential impact of the number of proposed reductions in or elimination of funding for certain Indian programs. We urge that the budget resolution instead provide funding over the budget request that will promote the well-being of whole Native American communities, particularly in the areas of health care, housing, public safety and justice, and education.

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