Update: Due to inclement weather, the hearing started at 10:15am. The hearing will be interrupted by a Senate vote.
Secretary Dirk Kempthorne will testify today before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee about the Interior Department's fiscal year 2009 budget request.
The department's $10.7 billion budget includes $2.2 billion for the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Increases were sought to help tribes fight methamphetamine and to improve Indian student achievement.
Elsewhere, most programs at the BIA were cut. Eliminated were $21.4 million in Johnson O'Malley education grants, $13.6 million for the Housing Improvement Program and $9.8 million for Indian land consolidation. There was a $27.6 million cut to school construction, $22 million cut to welfare assistance, a $12.5 million cut to roads maintenance, a $10.6 million cut for self-governance compacts, a $5.9 million cut to scholarships and adult education and a $2.3 million cut to tribal courts.
The hearing starts at 9:45am. It will be broadcast at http://energy.senate.gov.
Committee Notice:President's fiscal year 2009 budget for the Department of the Interior (February 13, 2008) DOI Budget:
In Brief | BIA | OST | DOI [from OMB] | PART Ratings FY2009 Budget:
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