Politics

Interior Secretary Jewell testifies at Capitol Hill budget hearings

Monday, March 24, 2014

Bureau of Indian Affairs sees small increase in FY2015 budget when compared to other agencies at the Interior Department. Image was taken of a slide presentation during the National Congress of American Indians winter session in Washington, D.C.

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell is making the rounds on Capitol Hill to discuss the fiscal year 2015 budget request for the Interior Department.

On Tuesday, Jewell appears before the House Appropriations Committee . She testifies to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, when she will be accompanied by her newly confirmed deputy, Michael Connor, who is a descendant of Taos Pueblo.

Next week, Jewell heads back to the House. She will appear before the House Natural Resources Committee on Thursday, April 3.

For fiscal year 2014, President Barack Obama is seeking $11.9 billion for DOI, a 2.4 percent increase from 2014 levels. The Bureau of Indian Affairs however, is only seeing a slight increase in comparison to other agencies at the department, according to a slide presented at the National Congress of American Indians winter session earlier this month.

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee is also holding a hearing on the FY2015 budget request. Assistant Secretary Kevin Washburn, the head of the BIA, is due to testify.

Committee Notices:
Budget Hearing - Department of the Interior (March 25, 2014)
Committee schedule for the week of March 24th (March 26, 2014)
Oversight Hearing to receive testimony on "The President's Fiscal Year 2015 Budget for Tribal Programs." (March 26, 2014)
Oversight Hearing on “Department of the Interior, Spending and the President’s Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Proposal” (April 3, 2014)

FY2015 Budget Documents:
Strengthening Tribal Nations | Indian Affairs | Standing With Indian Country