Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
An oversight correction relating to housing grant dollars in South Dakota tribal settings is advancing through the legislature.
South Dakota Public Broadcasting’s C.J. Keene reports.
Last year, lawmakers passed the $200 million Housing Infrastructure Finance Program, but that program included language excluding tribal governments.
House Bill 1041 modifies the bill’s definition of public infrastructure to allow federally recognized tribes to claim from that pot.
Further, it declares an emergency to allow tribal groups to claim that money sooner than later.
The bill was brought by State Rep. Tyler Tordsen (Sisseton-Wahpeton/R-SD).
He explains the scope of the proposal.
“Housing is a challenge, whether you’re in Sioux Falls, whether you’re in rural South Dakota, or whether you’re in the tribal communities. So, that was the reason there was so much support for this, just to make sure tribes are eligible, tribal entities are eligible, tribal housing authorities and nonprofits that operate in that area of our state.”
Questions were raised about the necessity of an emergency provision in this bill.
State Sen. Reynold Nesiba (D-SD) says the need justifies the clause.
“My concern is that the grant funding is already gone, because that became available July 1, so I do think it is urgent. I don’t think it is anyone’s intention to keep tribal entities from being able to qualify. They have some of the most pressing housing problems in our state.”
The bill advanced with a do pass recommendation on an 8-1 vote and will next be heard on the House floor.
Window Rock Wastewater Treatment Plant. (Courtesy Smith Engineering Company)
The U.S. EPA recently announced it reached a settlement with the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA).
That means the NTUA has agreed to improve wastewater treatment facilities in three communities in northern Arizona.
Chris Clements of KSJD has more.
The Department of Justice filed a complaint on behalf of the EPA that says the facilities violated Clean Water Act permits meant to protect human health and the environment by discharging wastewater not treated to proper levels into washes across the tribal nation.It also says the NTUA failed to maintain their facilities’ sewage systems and prevent sewage spills.The roughly $100 million settlement will mean some short-term and long-term upgrades to facilities in Chinle, Kayenta, and Tuba City that serve about 20,000 people, mostly Navajo citizens.Beth Aubuchon is a supervisory natural resource specialist for Region 9 of the EPA.“When we look at Navajo (Nation) and the type of land it is, water resources are a limited quantity out there. It’s important to protect all of them.”Aubuchon says that NTUA, a nonprofit enterprise of the Navajo Nation, has already begun much of the work needed at its treatment facilities.Federal grants from initiatives like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan and other sources are expected to cover the majority of the cost expected for the NTUA under the settlement.
California state lawmakers and tribal leaders are taking a look at the Feather Alert a year after its implementation.
The alert system is used to notify the public and law enforcement about missing Native American people, especially women and girls.
It operates similar to the Silver and AMBER alerts.
Like other alerts, it is overseen by the California Highway Patrol, but city police and sheriff departments make the notification request to the highway patrol.
State Rep. James Ramos (Serrano/Cahuilla/D-CA) authored the bill, which created the alert system.
Rep. Ramos will lead a press conference at the State Capitol in Sacramento on Wednesday, followed by a legislative hearing.
Tribal leaders, advocates, and law enforcement officers are expected to take part in both the news conference and hearing.
State officials are also expected to take part in the hearing.
Rep. Ramos, who’s the first and only California Native American in the state legislature, was recently named chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee, which deals with public safety issues.
New Year. New Newsletter. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily and stay up-to-date on the 2024 Native Vote. Sign up for our daily newsletter today.
