Barbara Mikulski: “I want to speak against the Thune amendment. What we want to acknowledge is the validity of the concerns to fund help…”

“I want to speak against the Thune amendment. What we want to acknowledge is the validity of the concerns to fund help for the Indian tribes. But let's go to the facts. Fact No. 1, the President's budget request eliminated dedicated funding for tribes. This very President, this very administration has eliminated dedicated funding for tribes. This committee, on a bipartisan basis, rejected that. It is true, we do need to help get those resources into Indian country. We do not doubt the validity of that. In response, we said no to the President eliminating dedicated funding, and yes to $83 million. This subcommittee will put in $83 million for tribal programs to fight crime, protect victims, and to help troubled tribal youth; $35 million for tribal law enforcement, for training, hiring, for equipment, for court improvement projects; $28 million for additional tribe assistance; $10 million for youth intervention programs; $6 million for domestic violence programs. We have said no to the President eliminating this, and yes to the $83 million.”