FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 9, 2017
MEDIA CONTACTS
Jared Touchin (928) 221-9253
Jolene Holgate (928) 380-4174
Crystalyne Curley (928) 286-7918
[email protected]
DelegateKeeAllenBegay,Jr.continuesadvocacy
forincreasedpublicsafetyfundingatfederallevel
WASHINGTOND.C.–Lastweek,CouncilDelegateKeeAllenBegay,Jr.(LowMountain,Many
Farms,Nazlini,Tachee/BlueGap,Tselani/Cottonwood)continuedhisadvocacytosecure
increasedfederalfundingatthemostrecentTribal/InteriorBudgetCouncilsession.
TheTIBCmeetsonaquarterlybasiseachyearforthepurposeofprovidingaforumandprocess
fortribesandfederalofficialstodevelopannualbudgetrequestsfortribesundertheU.S.
DepartmentoftheInterior.
DelegateBegayservesasthechairofTIBC’sPublicSafetyJusticeWorkgroup,whichservesasa
budgetaryadvisorygroupforpublicsafetyandjusticeservicesfundingfortribes.Healsoservesas
amemberoftheNavajoNationCouncil’sLawandOrderCommittee,whichhasworked
aggressivelytosecurepayincreasesforNavajopoliceofficers,toprovideimprovedretirement
services,andtoconstructmorehomesontheNavajoNationforpoliceofficers.
Duringtheworkgroup’smeeting,DelegateBegayrecommendedthattribesreceivefederal
fundingdirectlyratherhavingmultipleagenciesinvolvedwhichoftendelaysthedeliveryoffunds
totribes.
“Eachyear,tribesreceivefederalfundingthroughalengthyandcomplicatedprocessthat
involvesmultipleagencies,”saidDelegateBegay.“Ifwedevelopedabetterstreamlinedprocess
thentribeswouldreceivefundingdirectlyandeliminatedelays.”
TIBCmemberswerealsoprovidedanupdateontherecentomnibusappropriationsbillthatwas
passedbycongresslastweekandsignedbyPresidentTrumponMay5.Thepassageofthebillwill
fundthefederalgovernmentthroughthecurrentfiscal.Thegovernmenthadbeenoperating
underacontinuingresolution,whichwassettoexpireatmidnightofMay5.
AccordingtothereportprovidedattheTIBCsession,theoverallbudgetfortheBureauofIndian
Affairswillincreaseby2.3percentfortheremainderofthecurrentfiscalyear.
Theomnibusappropriationsagreementincludesapproximately$385millionforpublicsafetyand
justiceprograms,$202millionofwhichisforcriminalinvestigationsandpoliceservices.Italso
provides$1millionprogramincreasetoimplementtheNativeAmericanGravesProtectionand
RepatriationAct$96millionfordetentionandcorrections,$10millionforlawenforcement
specialinitiatives,and$30millionfortribalcourts.
DelegateBegaystatedthat$385millionmayseemlikealargeamount,however,theamount
receivedbytheNavajoNationwillbemuchlesswhenthefundsaredistributedamongalltribes.
LawandOrderCommitteechairCouncilDelegateEdmundYazzie(Churchrock,Iyanbito,Mariano
Lake,Pinedale,SmithLake,Thoreau)andDelegateBegaysaidthecommitteeisplanningtomeet
withmembersoftheNavajoNation’scongressionaldelegationtocontinueadvocatingfor
increasedpublicsafetyandjudicialfunding.
DelegateYazziesaidtheLOCremainscommittedtohelpinglawenforcementandtheJudicial
Branch,andalsothankedhisLOCcolleaguesfortheirworkanddedication.
TheNavajoNationisscheduledtohostthenextTribal/InteriorBudgetCouncilmeetinginJuly,
andLawandOrderCommitteemembersareplanningtomeetwiththeBIAandotherofficialsto
prepareinadvancefortheupcomingTIBCmeeting.
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