Indian Country impacted by sequestration

By Lailani Upham

BILLINGS — Sequestration means 8.2 percent in cuts to the federal budget but for Indian Country, sequestration means even deeper cuts, according to Montana Budget and Policy Center officials.

Western Native Voice, a non-profit voter engagement and empowerment agency based out of Billings, is urging citizens in Indian Country to voice out their concerns to legislators on the state and federal levels to reach a well-adjusted agreement regarding the cuts that will affect every Native community hard.

“Contact members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, our two Senators, and our United States Representative and urge them to reach a balanced approach to replace the sequester, and be mindful of the cuts being made and the impact they will have on the lives of Native Americans. We in Indian Country will feel a greater impact than the rest of the nation. Indian Health Service will be experience some of the highest cuts.”

The breakdown of the 8.2 percent federal budget equates to a 21 percent cut in Tribal Housing Grants; a 23 percent cut to Native American Job Training; and a 35 percent cut to Heating and Energy Assistance and more.

Laura John, Montana Budget and Policy Center State-Tribal Policy Analyst stated, “Sequestration will have significant impacts on Indian Country. Our Congressman need to be aware that these cuts will place a disproportionate burden on American Indians.”

A list of has been provided through Western Native Voice for people to call or write in their concerns to the appropriate legislator:

Montana Senators
• Senator Max Baucus
Phone: 1-800-332-6106
Email: http://www.baucus.senate.gov/?p=contact
• Senator John Tester
Phone: 1-866-554-4403
Email: http://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=email_senator

United States Representative for Montana
• U.S. Representative Steve Daines
Phone: 1-406-502-1438
Email: http://daines.house.gov/contact

UNITED STATES SENATE COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS
DEMOCRATS
• Maria Cantwell, Chairwomen (WA)
Phone:(202) 224-3441
Email: http://www.cantwell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-maria
• Tim Johnson, Member (SD)
Phone:(202) 224-5842
Email: http://www.johnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactForm
• Jon Tester, Member (MT)
Phone:(866) 554-4403
Email: http://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=email_senator
• Tom Udall, Member (NM)
Phone: (202) 224-6621
Email: http://www.tomudall.senate.gov/?p=contact
• Al Franken, Member (MN)
Phone: (651) 221-1016
Email: http://www.franken.senate.gov/?p=email_al
• Mark Begich, Member (AK)
Phone: (202) 224 - 3004
Email: http://www.begich.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/emailsenator
• Brian Schatz, Member (HI)
Phone: (202) 224-3934
Email: http://www.schatz.senate.gov/contact.cfm
• Heidi Heitkamp, Member (ND)
Phone: (202)-224-2043
Email: http://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/contact.cfm

REPUBLICANS
• John Barrasso, Vice Chairman (WY)
Phone: 202-224-6441
Email: http://barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction =ContactUs.ContactForm
• John McCain, Member (AZ)
Phone: (202) 224-2235
Email:http://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?
FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm
• Lisa Murkowski, Member (AK)
Phone: (202)-224-6665
Email: http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=EMailLisa
• John Hoeven, Member (ND)
Phone: 202-224-2551
Email: http://hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-the-senator/
• Michael Crapo, Member (ID)
Phone: (202) 224-6142
Email: http://www.crapo.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm
• Deb Fischer, Member (NE)
Phone: 402-742-0084
Email: http://debfischer2012.com/contact/