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Testimony of Red L\ke Chairman Gerald F. Brun, February 18, 1993 



Before the House Native American Affairs Subcommittee 



Regarding Tribal Fish and Wildlife Conservation Legislation 



come through to the tribal government level is sporadic and often project specific. There 

 is a critical need for Congress to authorize and appropriate stable and consistent levels of 

 funds specifically targeted for the comprehensive tribal government operation of its natural 

 resource core management program. 



Funding for such a comprehensive program could have little impact on the federal 

 budget because of the unique revenue collection and distribution mechanisms under the 

 Dingell- Johnson and Pittman-Robertson Acts. State and local governments, even the District 

 of Columbia, now receive a proportional share of funds collected under these Acts from 

 special taxes levied on the sale of licenses, permits, weapons, ammunition, gear, equipment, 

 boats, fuel, and related consumer goods used in fishing and hunting activities. These funds 

 are collected by the federal government and returned to states and local units of government 

 in proportional shares for fish and wildlife restoration projects. 



But while some of the hunting and fishing activities occur on tribal lands, including 

 those lands over which state and local governments have no jurisdiction or conservation 

 responsibility, none of these funds are now allocated to tribal governments who do have that 

 jurisdiction and responsibility. Nothing is allocated to Indian Reservations despite the fact 

 that all Reservation fish and wildlife recreational activities contribute money to these funds. 

 There is a strong case to be made, on basic fairness and equity, that tribal conservation and 

 enforcement programs should get a share of these funds. 



In an attachment to this testimony. Red Lake submits proposed amendment language 

 which would allocate to Indian Tribes a portion of the Dingell-Johnson and Pittman- 

 Robertson Act funds. We strongly support such a measure. However, we ask that in 

 considering such an amendment, the Subcommittee make every effort to ensure that BIA 

 officials are not permitted any discretion to reduce fish and wildlife related funding to Tribes 

 because Tribes obtain Dingell-Johnson and Pittman-Robertson funds. Tribes need additional 

 funds, and that is our objective in seeking the Dingell-Johnson and Pittman-Robertson 

 funding. We make this request because we have heard BIA officials view such an 

 amendment as a way for BIA to redirect BIA fish and wildlife funds into other areas of the 

 BIA budget. We would oppose all such efforts and ask that you make sure BIA cannot do 

 so. 



Please let us know if we can assist you in developing the legislation, in refining these 

 proposed amendments, and in securing passage of a bill during this session of Congress. We 

 sorely need early action on this critical topic. Thank you for this opportunity to be heard. 



RLF&WOe.TST 

 0152/07203 



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