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TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 2003

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee will hold a hearing tomorrow to address two Indian reservation roads proposals.

S.725, the American Indian Reservation Transportation Improvement Program Act, has two goals. One is to encourage Native Americans to enter the truck driving field. The other is to authorize tribes to enter into self-determinaton contracts with the Department of Transportation to administer road programs.

S.281, the Tribal Transportation Program Improvement Act of 2003, would increase funding for the Indian Reservation Roads (IRR) program. Tribes depend on the money for road, bridge and other projects.

Separate from the two bills, Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) yesterday introduced the American Indian Reservation Transportation Improvement Program Act of 2003. It is similar in respects to S.281 in that it increases IRR funding levels.

The hearing will be held tomorrow at 10 a.m. A live video feed is available at http://indian.senate.gov.

Get the Story:
Domenici seeks reactivation of highway funds for tribes (The Farmington Daily Times 6/3)

Get the Bills:
S.281 | S.725

Relevant Links:
TEA-21 Reauthorization - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reauthorization
Tribal Transportation, DOT - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/natvamrc/index.htm

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Rahall: The Indian agenda in the 108th Congress (01/08)
State disputes 'illegal jurisdiction' of tribe (10/10)
Bill to double reservation road funds (09/24)
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