Despite widespread disrepair of schools, jails and health care facilities in Indian Country, the Bush administration requested only a fraction of the funding needed to fix the problems, senators of both parties said Thursday.
Senate Indian Affairs Committee Chairman Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., said there is a nearly $3 billion backlog in construction or repair of American Indian health facilities, a $1.8 billion backlog to repair or build schools and $6 billion to repair and construct jails.
He said administration officials told the committee that things are "swimmingly good" when they're actually depressing. "It's unbelievable to me," he said.
On the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming, buildings sit condemned and vacant because of gas leaks, fires and general maintenance issues, said Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo. The law enforcement department is stretched to the maximum and shares a building with four other offices. The Fort Washakie Health Center serves 11,000 clients out of a building put up in 1877 for the cavalry, he said.
"What is happening there is absolutely unacceptable," Barrasso said.
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