Pete Domenici: “most Indians today still live in poverty. This is reflected in a per capita income figure that is one-sixth to one-fifth…”

“most Indians today still live in poverty. This is reflected in a per capita income figure that is one-sixth to one-fifth the national average for the 10 largest Indian reservations. In simplest terms, most reservation Indians have one dollar of income for every five dollars of income available to average Americans. On the Papago reservation in Arizona, the per capita income is $3,113 compared to $18,325 for all Americans (1990 Census). At Zuni Pueblo, the per capita income is $3,904 and at that Navajo reservation it is $3,735. These figures have changed only slightly since the 1990 Census. Fifty-one percent of American Indians residing on reservations live below the poverty line; and unemployment averages 37%. ISTEA has already helped tremendously to increase the accessibility of Indian people, but much remains to be done. We can help accelerate the movement of Indian people into mainstream economic activities by improving their accessibility to better markets and better tourism opportunities. ISTEA II, S. 1173, now authorizes a grand total of $173 billion for all programs over the six year life of the bill.”