The Senate Indian Affairs Committee will hold an oversight hearing on Indian school safety next Thursday, May 13.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs has a $1.3 billion backlog in construction, maintenance and repair at schools in Indian Country. Reports from the Interior Department Inspector General have found serious health and safety risks at the Bureau of Indian Education.

"If these problems were occurring anywhere else in America, the public outcry would be enormous," Sen. Tom Udall (D-New Mexico), a member of the committee, said in a press release. "The unfortunate reality is that the safety concerns facing children in our country's Native communities are all too often ‘out of sight, out of mind.' It's my hope that this hearing will be the first step in remedying this unacceptable situation."

The hearing takes place at 9:30am in Room 628 of the Senate Dirksen Office Building. A witness list hasn't been posted.

Committee Notice:
OVERSIGHT HEARING: Does Indian School Safety Get a Passing Grade? (May 13, 2010)

OIG Report:
Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education: Schools in Need of Immediate Action (May 2007)

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EchoHawk admits 'no way' to clear BIA school backlog (2/26)
Report warns of serious dangers at BIA schools (7/17)