Pete Domenici: “today there is a $1.5 billion backlog of repairs, renovation, and replacement for all federally owned and operated BIA…”

“today there is a $1.5 billion backlog of repairs, renovation, and replacement for all federally owned and operated BIA schools, including elementary, secondary, and post-secondary schools. A December, 1997 report by the General Accounting Office (GAO) concluded that ``the cost of the total inventory of repairs needed for BIA education facilities (elementary and secondary only) is $754 million. This includes $693 million for repairs to school buildings, including dormitories for students. It also includes $61.7 million in repairs needed for education quarters such as employee housing. The footnote to this estimate notes that $754 million ``does not include the costs of replacing school buildings. BIA's priority list for constructing education facilities includes eight unfunded school replacement projects with a total estimated cost of $112 million. Mr. President, we in the Senate who pay close attention to this BIA priority list for school construction are well aware that this list has been frozen for several years now.”