Political Quotes

“Yes, I agree with the distinguished Senator from Michigan. The Senate did include funding in the amount of $3 million for the Tribal School Construction Demonstration Program. The legislation also authorizes the Department of Interior to continue administering the program from fiscal year 2003 to 2007. Future years funding will be subject to appropriations. In addition, the authorizing language provides that the Secretary of Interior shall ensure that a tribe that agrees to fund all future operations and maintenance costs receives the highest priority for a grant under the program. The program was first authorized and funded in fiscal year 2001. The Program was reauthorized in fiscal year 2002, but the subcommittee did not provide funds to the Department of Interior because there were no eligible tribes capably of sharing the construction costs. The subcommittee was pleased to learn that the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan is eligible, willing, and capable to take advantage of this innovative program during the fiscal year 2003 funding cycle. The subcommittee believes that the Tribal Construction Demonstration Program will continue to prove to be one of the most beneficial and successful programs of its kind for the improvement of Native American education facilities.”