Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Hearing on the 2013 Native Programs Budget

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Live Webcast Thursday

WASHINGTON – The US Senate Committee on Indian Affairs will hold an oversight hearing on President Barack Obama's 2013 Budget for Native programs on Thursday.

President Obama's Fiscal Year 2013 budget request for Indian Affairs, which includes the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), is $2.5 billion - a $4.6 million decrease below the FY 2012 enacted level.

The proposed budget maintains the President's commitment to meeting the government's responsibilities to the 566 Federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes, while holding the line on fiscal responsibility and improving government efficiency.

Expert testimony will be heard by American Indian federal officials and tribal leaders on the need to maintain adequate funding in Indian Country for key programs.

The hearing will be webcast live on Thursday afternoon. To view the webcast Live use this Link.

WHEN:     Thursday, March 8

TIME:     2:15 pm est

WHERE:   Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 628

Witnesses

The Honorable Michell Hicks
Principal Chief
Eastern Band of Cherokee on behalf of United South and Eastern Tribes Inc.,
Nashville, Tennessee

The Honorable Robert Shepherd
Chairman
Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, on behalf of Great Plains Tribal Chairman's Association,
Rapid City, South Dakota

The Honorable Jefferson Keel
President
National Congress of American Indians,
Washington DC

The Honorable Fawn Sharp
President
Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians,
Portland, Oregon

The Honorable Larry Echo Hawk
Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs
US Department of the Interior,
Washington DC

The Honorable Yvette Roubideaux
Director
Indian Health Service, US Department of Health and Human Services,
Rockville, Maryland

posted March 7, 2012 6:00 am est