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BIA Eastern Region Budget Testimony FY 2013

BIA Eastern Region Budget Testimony FY 2013. Eastern Region Tribal Priorities FY 2013. Tribal Priority Allocations Tribal Court Scholarships Contract Support. TRIBAL PRIORITY ALLOCATIONS (TPA). According to the American Community Survey (2009):

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BIA Eastern Region Budget Testimony FY 2013

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  1. BIA Eastern Region Budget Testimony FY 2013

  2. Eastern Region Tribal Priorities FY 2013 Tribal Priority Allocations Tribal Court Scholarships Contract Support

  3. TRIBAL PRIORITY ALLOCATIONS (TPA) According to the American Community Survey (2009): The poverty rate of American Indians and Alaska Natives was devastating with 33% living below the 125% poverty ratein comparison to 17.8% of the white race.

  4. The unemployment rate was54% higher forNative Americans and Alaskan Natives than whites.

  5. The median income for American Indians and Alaska Natives was $36,520, 33% less than the white race median income of $54,635.

  6. TPA is the principal source of funds for Tribal governments. According to individual needs and circumstances, Tribes have the latitude to prioritize funding among numerous general categories: Human Services Resource Management Tribal Government Real Estate Services Education Public Safety & Justice Community & Economic Development

  7. In reviewing the following table it is evident that BIA TPA appropriations are not increasing to the level of inflationary costs

  8. Within the Eastern Area alone it is estimated that to be able to continue to provide at least the same level of services as in FY 2006 an additional $2.6 million must be allocated to the Area’s Tribal Priority Allocation (TPA) line item. This doesn’t even consider the pre-existing unmet needs of tribal governments prior to 2006 or population growth. In FY 2012, “Strengthening Tribal Nations” is one of President’s proposed top initiatives. The Eastern Region Tribes feel strongly one key factor that promotes this initiative is to provide increased funding to the Tribal Priority Allocations. General increases in the TPA category would provide Tribes with flexibility of prioritizing the programs and services that are vital to the strengtheningof their individual and unique Tribal communities and embraces the true meaning of self- determination.

  9. CONTRACT SUPPORT COSTS The FY 2012 President’s Budget proposes a funding Increaseof $29.5 million for Contract Support Cost from the FY 2010 enactedbudget/FY 2011 CR of $166 million, accumulating to a national total of $195.5 million. Past estimatesindicate that even If the FY 2012 budget is enacted this still falls significantly below the national need. Within the Eastern Region alone the FY 2010 DCSC shortfall reports indicates $3.6 million is required to fully fund DCSC at the tribes current IDC rates and the 15% direct cost level.

  10. The shortfall report revealed that the average direct contract support cost funding level for the Eastern Region tribes to be only at a 76.01% level, the lowest tribe being funded at only a 48.09%. DCSC has a priority issue for decades, not only for the Eastern Region, but for all tribes. It is important to recognize that the other Bureaus within the DOI, as with other federal agencies, have achieved their obligations of paying 100% contract support costs to their non-native contractors and this obligation can not be ignored when it involves tribal self-governance and 638 contractors.

  11. HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS In the last decade significant success has been made in the higher education of American Indians and Alaska Natives despite the economic and cultural challenges that AI/AN face. In a report entitled “Status andTrends in the Education of American Indians and Alaska Natives” it was noted that between: 1976-1977(3,300degrees awarded) 2005-2006 (10,900 degrees awarded) Tripling the number of degrees awarded by colleges and universities to American Indians/AlaskaNatives.

  12. However, even with this notable success, American Indians still account for the lowest of all races in student enrollment, retention, and graduationrates. Several contributing to these low rates include: • Lack of comparable educational funding between American Indians and other races. The National Center of Education Statistics reports that average educational grants and loans award is at least 5% lower for American Indian than all other races. • High poverty level of American Indians makes it impossible for students to rely upon their families for financial support - 65% of all Indian students are self-supporting compared to the national average of 50%.

  13. The number of American Indian undergraduate students supporting dependent children is nearly 35%magnifying the need for financial assistance. Scholarship funding is not even close to the actual cost of rising tuition Recent reports indicate that in the school year 2010-2011, public in-state four-year colleges/universities rose to $7,605, increasing the cost by 7.9% from the prior school year. Providing additional scholarship funding is vital to the continued success of achieving equity in higher educational attainment for AI/AN to other groups in this Country. Access to quality education is on step to moving American Indians and Alaska Natives from the lowest level of poverty to the realization of self-sufficiency.

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