Herb Kohl: “It has recently come to my attention that the Menominee Indian Tribe in Wisconsin is in need of additional assistance…”

“It has recently come to my attention that the Menominee Indian Tribe in Wisconsin is in need of additional assistance from Rural Development. The latest poverty figures indicate 60 percent of rural Americans who are living in poverty reside in census tracks containing or adjacent to Indian reservations. Unfortunately, 50 percent of the members residing on the three reservations of the Menominee Tribe in my State of Wisconsin live below the poverty rate with less than 72 percent of children receiving a high school diploma. Unemployment exceeds 20 percent. The Department of Agriculture needs to consider meritorious applications for water and waste and business development programs which will benefit this tribe. It is my intention that during our upcoming conference deliberations with the House, to include language in the statement of managers to support the consideration of an application in relation to the Mole Lake Water and Sewer System within the Water and Waste Loan and Grant account to address the current sanitary needs and provide opportunities to attract new homeowners. In addition, there is a need to construct a Menominee Mini-Mall Development project and the Forest Enterprises Technology Center to attract new businesses and create a business incubator.”