Likes its counterpart in Barrow, the Nome Hospital built in 1948 serves 20 communities in Bering Straits Region. There is a critical need to develop a larger OSHA compliant inpati facility with expanded services and the existing structure would be unable to house such capabilities. $7.2 million is needed for the Planning and Design phase. The completed pr estimated to cost $113 million and ranks third on the IHS outpatient priority list.

Samuel Simmons Memorial Hospital- The planning and site acquisition phase of th SSMH replacement project in Barrow is estimated at $8.5 million. The Arctic Slope Nativ Association (ASNA) is charged with serving the health needs of nine communities that sp region larger than the State of Washington. The completed project is estimated to cost $11 million and ranks second for inpatient facility construction on the IHS priority list.

I have other requests for the Indian Health Service budget that I am listing below.

Bureau of Indian Affairs

Bering Sea Fishermen's Association

Since 1994, Congress authorized the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to appropriate to the Bering Sea Fishermen's Association (BSFA) to conduct salmon monitoring, researc restoration and enhancement projects in western Alaska. This is to help with the restoratio depressed salmon stocks under the management of one organization and represents all affe fishermen in western Alaska. The sharp decline of returns of Chinook and chum salmon t Yukon River, Kuskokwim River, and rivers draining into Norton Sound have led to severe restrictions on commercial and subsistence fisheries, and to the repeated disaster declaratio the state and federal governments. I respectfully request that the Subcommittee support th reinstatement of $1.8 million for the BSFA for Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim (AYK) regions western Alaska and carry on the leadership of collaborative investigation in marine produc

Alaska Legal Services Corporation

In the past, the Alaska Legal Services Corporation (ALSC) has contracted with the represent Alaska Native allottees at administrative hearings and government contests with Allotment land disputes. I strongly feel that the representation that the ALSC provides for who cannot afford their own attorneys is justified. I want to again support the ALSC in th efforts to resolve some of these land disputes. ALSC is requesting $500,000 to provide le services for Native allottees and I fully support this effort. ALSC's increased workload ex in FY 06 is due to the implementation of the Alaska Land Transfer Acceleration Act of 20 108-452, 118 Stat.3575 (2004). Pursuant to the Act, the Bureau of Land Management (BI must expedite processing Native allotment applications so that land transfer to the State of and Native Corporations will be finalized in the year 2009. Toward that end, ALSC has ac a collaborative relationship with BLM and the Office of the Regional Solicitor that has res several major projects that will ensure that finalization of land transfers in Alaska will be by the year 2009. However, ALSC's responsibilities for these projects requires additional to ALSC for the next several years. I respectfully ask that this Subcommittee fully fund

Vr Garman have reserved numerous requests from my constituents in Alaska, Temer." Tut wat ʼn trefly outline the most urgent requests. You have heard me state the moonance v hese zaves --- -the IHS all-Alaska Compact with Alaska tribes, the Alaska barca vave Allotment representation, and funding to develop and improve a fisheries in he more sanamically teprost regions in my state. Additionally, I am briefly listing the requests we wa fom Alaska and ask this Subcommittee to consider each of these requests.

sture f American Indian and Alaska Native Arts

Lady I would like to add my support to the Institute of American Indian and Alaska warm hea Chik, for their appropriations request. The IAIA is a Congressionally chartered mule that same dager dication dedicated to the preservation, study, creative application y expression of American Indian and Alaska Native arts and cultures. $6.5 mulion for "perating budget to begin to address defined five year goals, including important

MEN Acreditation mandates, IALA federal budget request represents a $500,000 merese via F16 funding. The Institute will continue to leverage funds from private sources to mowe planned improvements are jointly supported for LAIA to continue to provide high quality educational spportunity to a growing student population.

Capital Construction Matching Funds of $4 million to match a W.K. Kellogg Foundation Challenge Grant. The $4 million will be matched dollar for dollar by the Kellogg Foundation as a federal/private sector partnership. Beyond the federal and private sector's commitment, tribes and the State of New Mexico are investing funds toward the establishment of the Lifelong Learning Center. This would be the creation of the only facility in the country to specifically address the life-long educational needs of indigenous peoples, tribes, organizations and communities. I respectfully ask that this Subcommittee honor the IAIA's Interior Appropriations request for FY 2006.

Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation

1. Staffing Package for the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta Regional Hospital. The first priority is for $6.84 million in recurring funds beginning FY 06 to fund the staffing package for the Bethel hospital that was constructed in 1980. Although the HIS funded construction of the hospital, the staffing package was never funded. Since YKHC took over operations of the hospital in 1991, YKHC has been under funded $6.84 million for staffing every year for a total of $95.76 million (14 years x $6.84 million).

2. Distance Learning Project. The second priority is for $2 million for the Distance Learning Project Phase to provide distance learning opportunities to our staff who are located in 50 communities in an area the size of the State of Oregon with virtually no roads. In addition this project will enhance YKHC's ability to provide health services, training and administrative services to patients, doctors and other health professionals throughout the entire region and will allow YKHC to take advantage of recent innovations in telemedicine technologies that are

dependent on having a solid underlying communications infrastructure in place.

3. Bethel Primary Care Center Construction Funds. $6 Million for FY 06 for Phas million for FY 07, and $5 million for FY 08 for construction of a primary care center loca Bethel.

4. Inhalant Treatment Center Operating Funds. $2 million in recurring funds begi FY 06 to support operating funds for the Statewide Inhalant Treatment Center, approved t Alaska Native and American Indian children between the ages of 8 and 17. The YKHC tr center is the only center of its kind still in operation in the county (two other centers were to close their doors due to lack of funding).

Akeela Inc.

1. $400,000 to provide a three fold purpose of (1) to increase treatment retention a House by building upon the traditional Alaska Native cultural component of the treatment environment, (2) to enhance the successful transition of clients, particularly those coming correctional institutions, and (3) to increase our capacity to provide enhanced services to a number of clients. Both the enhancement and capacity expansion are anticipated to have a positive affect on client outcomes.

Norton Sound Health Corporation

1. The Norton Sound Health Corporation operates the Nome Hospital. Like its counterpart in Barrow, the Nome hospital built in 1948 serves 20 communities in the Beri Region. There is a critical need to develop a larger OSHA compliant inpatient facility wit expanded services and the existing structure would be unable to house such capabilities. million is needed for the Planning and Design phase.

2. $1,500,000 Solid Waste - Improve Solid Waste Systems in the Norton Sound r those villages that do not meet permit requirements for solid waste landfills

3. $3,000,000 for water and sewer system hook up in six villages who currently d have adequate water and sewer systems.

Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC)

1. The Inuit Circumpolar Conference was founded in 1977 by the late Eben Hops Barrow, Alaska. ICC has flourished and grown into a major international non-governmen organization representing approximately 150,000 Inuit of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Chukotka (Russia). The organization holds Consultative Status II at the United Nations.

Some of the largest economic engines in the State of Alaska are Inuit owned ANC Regional Corporations. They continue to be a strong component to the Alaska economy a good for Alaska because they bring their outside investment profits back to Alaska. There

significant opportunity to bring together Canadian Inuit Regional Corporations and 4 Canadian Inuit Governments from Canada, the Inuit Homerule Government of Greenland and Russian Inuit. The 2006 ICC General Assembly in Barrow will help develop the cross border relationships for Inuit owned ANCSA Regional Corporations to grow outside and continue to bring growth and profits back to Alaska. I support the ICC's of $250,000 to fulfill their goals of their conference.

Kawerak, Inc.

1. Bering Straits Regional Cultural Center. Earmark $5 million to help plan and construct a Bering Strait Region Cultural Center consisting of a museum, art and craft demonstrations, arctic research library, cross cultural programming and sustainable, economic benefits.

2. Kawerak's Bering Strait Education Centers. Provide support of $450,00 per year over the next three years for Adult Basic Education and post-secondary education centers in the Bering Strait Region.

3. Village Based Training Program. Appropriate $340,000 per year for three years to build a skilled workforce through the implementation of village-based training programs relating to planned infrastructure projects in the Bering Strait Region.

4. Norton Sound Disaster Relief Program. Continue funding for the Norton Sound Disaster Relief Program through FY 2010.

5. Funding for the Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Sustainable Salmon Initiative. Continue funding for the Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim through FY 2010.

6. Conservation Issues Regarding the Aleutian Islands (False Pass) Commercial Intercept Fishery. Provide funding to address conservation issues in the Area M Commercial Fishery so that informed decisions can benefit all users.

7. Shismaref Relocation/Shoreline Protection. Appropriate funds for the relocation of Shismaref under a pilot joint Federal-State coordinated project. Authorize the surplus military marine personnel carriers to the community of Shismaref for emergency evacuation. Authorize the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to construct 3,000 feet of non-contiguous seawall for protection of critical areas of Shishmaref.

8. Provide $35,000 per year per tribe through the Department of the Interior for Alaska Native Villages that have been identified as the highest risk communities from erosion or flooding.

9. Housing Improvement Program. Support and continue funding for the Bureau of Indian Affairs Housing Improvement Program (HIP). BIA has indicated it may discontinue the HIP in an effort to reduce their 2006 budget. The HIP program truly helps the neediest of the needy who lives border on desperation. Kawerak requests that HIP remain as a program of last resort for the most basic of human needs-shelter.

10. Tribal Priority Allocation Increase. Support Bureau of Indian Affairs Tribal Prio Allocation (TPA) increases to reflect cost of living adjustments on a continuing basis. The problem of having TPA funding effectively frozen is common to tribal P.L. 93-638 contract nationally, but it is exacerbated in rural Alaska by the extremely high cost of doing business Kawerak urges Congress to address this inequity by increasing the BIA TPA budget nationa and by adding the equivalent of a "cost of living" adjustment for Alaska to take into account high costs.

11. Agricultural Efforts of Reindeer Herding on the Seward Peninsula. Provide $75 in annual funding to the Reindeer Herder's Association through the BIA to support a viable, struggling reindeer herding industry on the Seward Peninsula. Funds will be used to conduc critical research on range resources, animal husbandry, fix reindeer corrals, charter airplane helicopters for moving reindeer, and provide instruction in animal health. A vehicle for fun in place through the 1937 Reindeer Act, which authorized $2 million in funding to support t reindeer industry in Alaska.

Southcentral Foundation

1. Pathway Home. Southcentral Foundation (SCF) has received $2.5 million Congressionally earmarked funds annually from within the Indian Health Service (IHS) appropriation. To date these funds have not been designated as recurring. SCF requests tha appropriation language increase this funding to $2.6 million to account for inflation and con to earmark this funding for Southcentral Foundation until such times as these funds are desi as recurring in SCF's Funding Agreement with IHS.

2. Anchorage/Mat-Su Valley Population Growth. In south central Alaska, the feder government discharges its responsibility to provide healthcare to Alaska Natives and Ameri Indians by compacting with Southcentral Foundation. The population growth in this region been exploding for the past two decades. As land for suitable housing development in Anch rapidly diminishes, the adjacent Mat-Su valley has been experiencing phenomenal increases population. Beneficiaries of the Indian Health Service have been increasing even faster thar general population. Consequently, IHS funding has lagged far behind actual needs. The rec of $2.5 million in recurring funds will help offset the funding lag and assure that Alaska Na and American Indian IHS beneficiaries will continue to have access to primary health care a avoid more expensive use of hospital facilities.

3. Equipment. South central Alaska has been the fastest growing region of the state decade and a half. This growth is so rapid that census counts and estimates are obsolete by time they are published. The equipment is necessary to continue to meet the primary care n including critical dental and audiology services, of the population including a new clinic in Mat-Su Valley. Location of dental services at the Head Start program enables the most vulr to children to receive services early, before problems get exacerbated and more difficult (an expensive) to treat.