Omnibus spending bill gains Bush approval

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2003

After months of political wrangling, President Bush on Thursday signed into law a massive appropriations bill that funds the federal agencies for the current year.

The $397 billion package covers just about every program in existence and then some, leading some lawmakers to criticize the bloated package. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) last week said it was filled with so much pork that he felt compelled to document dozens of "unnecessary" earmarks, ranging from to $50,000 to combat feral hogs in Missouri to a $700 million bailout of the Bonneville Power Administration, which manages dams that tribes in the Pacific Northwest want to tear down.

"The multitude of unrequested funding earmarks will continue to burden American taxpayers," he said.

As for Indian programs, there were few surprises. The bill funds the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) at $1.9 billion, an increase of $68 million from 2002, and the Indian Health Service at $2.9 billion, an increase of $109 million.

The Office of Special Trustee (OST) was funded at $149 million, slightly less than the amount the Bush administration requested a year ago. Of this amount, $15,000 is to be used to conduct an historical accounting for the Individual Indian Money (IIM) trust. But appropriators again issued a warning to the Department of Interior about the spiraling costs of failed efforts to reform the system.

"The managers believe that it is more important to fix prospectively the trust systems thereby allowing the Secretary to continue to meet her trust and fiduciary responsibilities to Indian Country," the joint House-Senate conference report stated.

There was also a special note to Secretary of Interior Gale Norton for her continued refusal to fund certain tribal colleges. For two consecutive years, she has cut money to two schools in New Mexico and North Dakota.

"The managers do not understand the disparate treatment of Crownpoint Institute of Technology and the United Sioux Tribes Technical College related to contract support," the appropriators said.

Some of the Indian funding might be put in the pork category by McCain. Due to the influence of Alaska's powerful Congressional delegation, many of these earmarks benefited Alaska Natives, including $150,000 to the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission for a drilling-related study, $100,000 for the Alaska Sea Otter Commission and $750,000 for rural Alaska firefighting.

The bill included a bailout of a domestic violence program on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Cangleska Inc., which lost Department of Justice funding, will receive $300,000 to keep operating, courtesy of Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.).

Senate appropriators had reinstated money for newly recognized tribes at the BIA. But the House negotiators cut $1.1 million from the budget, which helps the tribes set up their governments and daily operations.

House members also removed language directing the BIA to create a service unit for the Samish Nation of Washington, which was recognized in 1995 after more than 30 year of denied existence. The conference report said the matter was being litigated.

Funding for the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) was kept static at $8 million but with a note to increase funding starting in fiscal year 2004 to $12 million. The commission was also directed to consult with tribes about a proposal to increase casino fees and on controversial regulations on the definition of Class II games.

Get the Bill:
H.J.RES.2 | Full Report [See Page H1061 for BIA/OST/NIGC report language and Page H1070 for IHS report language]

Relevant Documents:
Bush Statement 1 | Bush Statement 2