BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS

WITNESSES

JOHN O. CROW, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER

FRED H. MASSEY, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, ADMINISTRATION J. LEONARD NORWOOD, CHIEF, BRANCH OF BUDGET AND FINANCE

Mr. KIRWAN. We shall now take up the Bureau of Indian Affairs. If you have a statement, please insert it in the record and tell us about your requests in a few words.

(The statement follows:)

STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER JOHN O. CROW

Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, the Bureau of Indian Affairs is requesting supplemental funds for fiscal year 1963 for four appropriation items. The first request is for $1,385,000 under the "Resources management" appropriation. This amount will provide $500,000 for fire suppression costs and $885,000 to finance pay increase costs as authorized by Public Law 87-793, approved October 11, 1962. Obligations through December 1962 for fire suppression are $486,371, or $346,371 over the $140,000 appropriated in 1963 for this purpose. The sum of $346,371 is required to cover fire cost through December and the sum of $153,629 will be used to meet fire suppression costs for the remainder of the year.

The second request is for $176,000 for “Menominee educational grants" to be derived by transfer of funds currently available under the "Education and welfare services" appropriation. These funds will be used as grants to the State of Wisconsin for distribution to the county of Menominee for contributions to joint school district costs. Appropriations for this purpose were authorized in Public Law 87-432, approved April 4, 1962.

The third request is for $5,771,250, which is to be used for the rehabilitation and relocation of the Lower Brule and Crow Creek Tribes of Sioux Indians. The rehabilitation and relocation of these two tribes is necessary because of the construction of the Big Bend Dam and Reservoir project on the Missouri River in South Dakota. The dam is scheduled to be closed in 1963 and members of the tribes will be required to vacate their lands by July 1, 1963. Appropriations for this purpose are authorized in Public Laws 87-734 and 87-735, approved October 3, 1962.

The fourth request is for an additional $2 million for the appropriation item "Road construction (liquidation of contract authorization)." These funds are needed to liquidate obligations that have been incurred under the contract authority contained in the Federal-Aid Highway Act and the Long-Range NavajoHopi Act. The estimates propose that these funds be made available to the Bureau of Indian Affairs by transfer from the National Park Service.

This concludes my statement, Mr. Chairman. We will be glad to answer any questions the committee may have.

Mr. CROW. Mr. Chairman, we are asking for a supplemental in four appropriation items.

The first one is under Resources management in a total of $1,385,000 and $500,000 of this is for fire suppression. The balance of $885,000 is to finance the pay increase costs.

The second item is a request for $176,000 for Menominee educational grants in the State of Wisconsin. We propose to absorb this amount but need authorizing language.

The third request is for $5,771,250 for the rehabilitation and relocation of the Lower Brule and Crow Creek Tribes of Sioux Indians, arising out of the construction of the Big Bend Dam. The dam is scheduled to be closed in 1963 and the money is needed.

The final item is a request for $2 million for liquidation of contract authorization on road construction.

FIRE SUPPRESSION AND PAY ACT COSTS

Mr. KIRWAN. A total of $1,385,000 is requested under "Resources management."

We will insert the justifications in the record. (The justifications follow :)

The Bureau of Indian Affairs received an appropriation of $140,000 in fiscal year 1963 for fire suppression. The obligations for the period July 1 to December 31, 1962, are $486,371. This estimate includes $500,000 for fire suppression which will enable the Bureau to continue processing requests for the suppression of fires.

Also, $885,000 is included in this estimate for pay cost increases as authorized by Public Law 87-793, approved October 11, 1962.

Fire suppression, $500,000

The estimate of $500,000 is requested to cover the cost of suppression and emergency prevention of fires on or threatening forest and rangelands of Indian reservations. Obligations through December 31, 1962, for fire suppression amount to $486,371 or $346,371 in excess of the $140,000 appropriated in fiscal year 1963 for this purpose. The difference of $153,629 between the overobligation of $346,371 and the $500,000 request will be used to meet fire suppression cost for the remainder of fiscal year 1963. The 5-year average of obligations for fire suppression activities for the period of January 1 to June 30 is $165,372. Pay cost increase, $885,000

The sum of $885,000 is requested to finance pay cost increases authorized by Public Law 87-793.

Mr. KIRWAN. $500,000 of this request is for fire suppression costs. This includes $153,629 to cover the estimated cost of fires for the last 6 months of the fiscal year. Based on the latest information available, does it appear that you will still need this entire amount? Mr. CROW. Yes, it does.

PAY ACT COST ABSORPTION

Mr. KIRWAN. $880,000 is for the increase pay act costs. What were the total pay act costs under this item and how much is being absorbed by the Bureau?

Mr. CROW. The total would be $1,035,000. We are proposing to absorb $150,000 out of this appropriation.

Mr. KIRWAN. Based on the latest information concerning your vacancies and other factors, do you feel it is possible to absorb any amount in addition to that reflected in the estimates?

Mr. CROW. No, sir, we do not.

Mr. KIRWAN. You do not think you could do it?

All agencies, as I said a while ago, preceding you people have been asked to take an additional 5 percent. They have the same problem you have and I hope you can do the same thing.

PAYMENT TO LOWER BRULE AND CROW CREEK SIOUX TRIBES OF INDIANS

Under payment to the Lower Brule Sioux and Crow Creek Tribes of Indians, briefly explain this program for relocation and rehabilitation of the Indians on these reservations affected by the construction of the Big Bend Dam.

Mr. CROW. Yes, sir.

The dam will inundate Indian lands already taken. The direct costs are being furnished by the Corps of Engineers and this is a program of rehabilitation and betterment for the dislocated people on those two reservations.

Mr. KIRWAN. The law says you have to pay them the amount included in these estimates?

Mr. CROW. Yes, sir.

Mr. KIRWAN. Insert the justification material.

(The matter referred to follows:)

Payment to the Lower Brule Sioux and Crow Creek Sioux Tribes of Indians [H. Doc. 61]

Request $5,771,250

PURPOSE AND NEED FOR SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS

The Big Bend Dam straddles the Missouri River and rests on the Lower Brule Reservation on one side and the Crow Creek Reservation on the other side. This program provides for the relocation and rehabilitation of the Indians on these reservations who will be forced to move because of this project. Of the $5,771,250 requested, $1,968,750 will be used for the rehabilitation and relocation of the Lower Brule Tribe and $3,802,500 will be used for the same purpose for the Crow Creek Tribe.

PROGRAM and PERFORMANCE

The Big Bend Dam straddles the Missouri River and rests on the Lower Brule Reservation on one side and the Crow Creek Reservation on the other side. This program provides for the relocation and rehabilitation of the Indians on these reservations who will be forced to move because of this project.

JUSTIFICATION

The $5,771,250 requested will provide for the costs of relocating and rehabilitating the members of the Lower Brule and Crow Creek Sioux Tribes whose lands will be inundated and who will be required to move because of the construction of the Big Bend project.

This money will be expended in accordance with the plans and programs approved by the tribal councils and the Secretary of the Interior for improving the economic and social conditions of the Indians who are members of the tribes on the date of the act, regardless of residence on or off the reservation. The purposes contemplated include development of individual and family plans, relocating, reestablishing, and providing other assistance designed to improve the economic and social conditions of enrolled members of the tribes. The appropriation of these funds is authorized in Public Laws 87-734 and 87-735, approved October 3, 1962.