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THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2003

The House Interior Appropriations subcommittee held a hearing on Wednesday to address the Department of Interior's fiscal year 2004 budget request.

Deputy Secretary Steve Griles said the Bush administration seeks $554 million to fix the broken system. Of the amount, $274.6 million would go to the Office of the Special Trustee and the rest to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The subcommittee is chaired by Rep. Charles Taylor (R-N.C.), a member of the Congressional Native American Caucus. The ranking member is Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.).

The subcommittee last year included language that would have restricted an historical accounting to the years 1985 to 2000. The House voted overwhelmingly to strip the provision from the 2003 budget bill.

Get the Story:
Budget increase sought for Indian trust accounts (The Billings Gazette 3/13)

Relevant Documents:
BIA Budget | Departmental Offices [for OST] | Trust Budget Overview | DOI Budget [from OMB]

Department of Interior Fiscal Year 2004 Request:
Budget in Brief (DOI February 2003)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
Cobell v. Norton, Department of Justice - http://www.usdoj.gov/civil/cases/cobell/index.htm
Indian Trust, Department of Interior - http://www.doi.gov/indiantrust

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