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THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2003

The House Appropriations Committee approved the Department of Interior's $19.6 billion spending bill for fiscal year 2004.

The bill creates a controversial Indian trust fund settlement program that is opposed by the plaintiffs in the Cobell suit and the National Congress of American Indians. If enacted, it would allow the Department of Interior to unilaterally settle Individual Indian Money (IIM) accounts through a voluntary program and through a statistical sampling.

Otherwise, the bill cuts funds for the department's historical accounting activities. The Bush administration requested $130 million but the House is reducing the amount to $75 million.

A full copy of the bill is not yet available online.

Get the Story:
Panel Endorses 3 Spending Bills (The Washington Post 6/26)

Relevant Links:
House Appropriations Committee - http://www.house.gov/appropriations

Related Stories:
Griles gets Cobell wish list from House (6/25)
Norton offered settlement funds for IIM trust (6/20)
Bush administration turns to Congress on trust (04/04)
Appropriators question historical accounting plan (03/13)