The Senate has joined the House in making changes to the committees and subcommittees that handle the appropriations process, The Hill newspaper reports. A tribal attorney had earlier warned tribes to look out for the changes.

The Senate eliminated the Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development and Independent Agencies subcommittee. As a result, the Military Construction subcommittee will now handle Veterans Affairs and the Transportation-Treasury subcommittee will handle Housing and Urban Development. The "Independent Agencies" will be parceled out to other subcommittees.

Also, the Interior subcommittee will gain jurisdiction over the Environmental Protection Agency. And the Energy and Water Development subcommittee will expand to include energy programs at the Interior Department. Finally, the State Department would transfer from the Commerce-Justice subcommittee to the Foreign Operations subcommittee.

The House had already adopted a similar structure but Senate Republican didn't make their changes until yesterday. At the National Congress of American Indians winter session this week, an attorney had urged tribes to pay close attention because some Indian programs will be affected.

"It's going to be very interesting with this new configuration," said Cindy Darcy, formerly of the Dorsey & Whitney's Indian law practice.

Get the Story:
Appropriators in Senate follow House changes (The Hill 3/3)

Budget Documents:
DOI Budget in Brief | Trust Responsibilities | Tribal Communities | Bureau of Indian Affairs | Departmental Offices [includes Office of Special Trustee] | DOI [from White House]

Related Stories:
Senator angles for better 'defense' on Bush budget (02/24)
Senators blast budget cuts to Indian programs (2/17)
Indian education funds reduced by Bush budget (2/10)
Official cites 'tight' budget for Indian housing (2/9)
BIA budget cut by $110M for fiscal year 2006 (2/8)
IHS escapes Bush administration's chopping block (2/8)
New Bush administration budget slashes programs (2/7)
Bush administration rolls out fiscal year 2006 budget (2/7)
State of Indian Nations address lays out broad agenda (2/4)
Bush to shift housing grant programs to Commerce (2/4)
Congress kicks into gear for 109th session (1/25)
Johnson expects tough times for Indian initiatives (01/18)
Bush administration to cut major HUD program (01/14)
Study shows impact of gaming in Indian Country (01/10)
Pombo cites achievements in 108th Congress (12/16)
Big changes in store for 109th Congress (12/14)
Indian advocates urge cooperation in Washington DC (11/05)
Data shows little change in economic status under Bush (08/27)
Bush says housing program he's cutting is 'working' (08/12)
Indian housing funds face cuts in Bush budget (04/14)
Tribes tackle budget woes under Bush administration (4/14)
Budget resolution barely clears House vote (03/26)
Tribal leaders denounce BIA budget plans as reckless (03/24)
BIA education programs taking $79 million hit (3/23)
Cuts run deep for tribal programs at BIA (03/09)
Senate panel shares criticism of Bush budget (02/12)
Tribal leaders pressing Congress on funding (02/11)
BIA programs barely survive White House test (02/10)
BIA budget staying the same under Bush request (2/3)