WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1969.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS

WITNESSES

T. W. TAYLOR, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER

J. L. COULSON, ASSISTANT TO THE COMMISSIONER

D. J. PROULX, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATION F. H. MASSEY, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, PROGRAM COORDINATION

R. R. REESER, ACTING ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, COMMUNITY SERVICES

H. D. GREEN, CHIEF, DIVISION OF BUDGET

C. B. ROVIN, CHIEF, DIVISION OF SOCIAL SERVICES

R. V. BUTLER, ASSISTANT CHIEF, DIVISION OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Mrs. HANSEN. We will now take up the request of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Education and Welfare Services.

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Chairman, I want to express the regrets of the Commissioner since he was unable to be here today.

Mrs. HANSEN. Will you please express to the Commissioner my regrets he couldn't be here, and my best wishes for his continued work and success as well as my appreciation for his visiting with the affilated tribes of North Dakota.

Mr. TAYLOR. All right.

Mrs. HANSEN. Mr. Taylor, please insert your statement in the record at this point and then summarize it for us.

Mr. TAYLOR. Thank you, Madam Chairman.

(The statement follows:)

STATEMENT OF T. W. TAYLOR

The Bureau of Indian Affairs is requesting a supplemental of $6 million in welfare and guidance activity for fiscal year 1970.

Of the $5.5 million increase for general assistance, $3.6 million is for the Navajo Reservation where there has been a drastic increase in caseload. The increase has not been generated by worsening economic conditions, but rather a change in attitude toward assistance of many Navajos who were probably eligible for assistance in previous years but did not apply. Our latest projection for the Navajo Indians is a monthly average caseload of 9,500 persons as opposed to the 3,000 persons projected in our fiscal 1970 budget and the actual monthly average of 1,551 in fiscal year 1969.

An amendment to the Social Security Act required States, effective July 1, 1969, to adjust their standards of assistance for aid to families with dependent children program to reflect changes in living costs. Almost all States, where the Bureau has a general assistance program, have increased their standards substantially, and the Bureau follows these standards. The requested $500,000 increase is needed to meet increased costs of foster home and institutional care for neglected, dependent, and handicapped Indian children.

Our projections are based upon the best available information to date. We are constantly watching and analyzing our data to determine any changes.

Our estimates have not taken into consideration the probable impact of the extremely poor fishing season in southeast Alaska. This has not yet been reflected in the general assistance caseload for the first quarter.

The growing increase in applications for assistance activity gives me great concern. However, we cannot, nor do we wish to, deny assistance to those who qualify and file applications, nor do I feel that we should reduce the aid below that of the States' public assistance standards. We must increase our efforts for work programs which will create jobs and reduce unemployment, so as to combat the development of dependency. I agree wholeheartedly with the statement made by the chairman of the Navajo Tribal Council in his letter of September 17, 1969, to the Secretary of Labor: "I fear the encroachment of a welfare way of life on my people, which is contrary to our heritage."

Mr. TAYLOR. The supplemental of $6 million for the welfare and guidance activity of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, as you will note from our justification, is made up of two main factors: First, the increase in number of applicants over the estimate in our 1970 appropriation.

Mrs. HANSEN. By the way, was this anticipated by you people?
Mr. TAYLOR. We anticipated it but not by as much.

Mrs. HANSEN. What has been the cause of the additional applicants?

REASON FOR INCREASE IN CASELOAD

Mr. TAYLOR. The case in the main has been on the Navajo Reservation where there has been a dramatic increase in the number of applicants for general assistance.

Mrs. HANSEN. To what is this due?

Mr. TAYLOR. It is due to activity of the Navajo groups calling attention of the Navajo people to availability of welfare, those that are eligible. People that have been eligible for a long period of time are now presenting themselves, and here is the kind of a pamphlet that is being distributed on the Navajo Reservation

Mr. McDADE. By whom?

Mr. TAYLOR. A welfare rights association.

Mr. ROVIN. A welfare rights association sponsored that. There have also been Navajo community action program staff people that have been covering this.

Mrs. HANSEN. While I am on the subject, and this is a good place to talk to you about this. As you are well aware, this committee has been deeply interested and committed to doing a better job in the Indian world so that we might not have as many on welfare but have them gainfully employed.

Mr. TAYLOR. Right.

Mr. HANSEN. I do hope, though, you are urging the Bureau of the Budget to accelerate those resource programs that will net the Indians an income. I am especially interested in completion of the Navajo irrigation project so that the Indians in that area can actually begin to earn some part of their living. I think they are a very proud people and very interested in seeing that completed. At the present rate the Bureau of the Budget is assigning funds, you are not going to get that completed until the year 2000.

Mr. TAYLOR. Your committee was very helpful this last year in emphasizing the importance of that project and we and the Navajos appreciate that.

INCREASE ON NAVAJO

In following up on your question, Madam Chairman; in July during the beginning of this fiscal year, the Navajo had 2,843 persons and in August 4,776, September 6,601, October 6,822, and then the line as projected goes on up to 14,000. That chart shows it so dramatically that we thought we better come see you about money.

That is an explanation of one of the factors. The other is increased costs per case.

Mrs. HANSEN. You have a monthly average caseload of 9,500 persons?

Mr. TAYLOR. That is projected.

Mrs. HANSEN. As opposed to the 3,000 persons projected in your 1970 budget?

Mr. TAYLOR. Yes.

Mr. PROULX. Maybe you would like to see some charts on the Navajo which shows the average was 497 per month. We have the actual monthly load for fiscal year 1968. In 1969, the average jumps from 497 to 1551. We have the monthly average there. This is when this started to take effect, the last half of 1969, and then in 1970 we have 4 months or 3 months to date. This is our guesstimate on what the rest is going to be. We will be glad to leave these charts with you to show how that has been working out.

Mrs. HANSEN. Are you through?

INCREASED COSTS PER CASE

Mr. TAYLOR. Just one other thing I might mention. The reason for the increase in costs-and this is familiar to the committee but we can put it in the record at this point-is that we follow the State standards for general assistance and these standards have increased. Mrs. HANSEN. Two States are involved, Arizona and New Mexico? Mr. TAYLOR. Yes, ma'am.

Mrs. HANSEN. Are those two States' standards comparable?
Mr. TAYLOR. Let me ask Mr. Rovin on that.

Mr. ROVIN. Substantially there are differences but not marked in each State.

Mrs. HANSEN. Supposing that you have a family on the border between New Mexico and Arizona, which State is the higher?

Mr. ROVIN. If he lived on the New Mexico side he would have to base that on New Mexico. On the Arizona side, he would have his budget based on Arizona.

Mrs. HANSEN. You might insert in the record what the State standards are.

Mr. ROVIN. For the different States.

Mrs. HANSEN. It is those two States that comprise the Navajo country?

Mr. ROVIN. That is right.

Mr. PROULX. A little bit in Utah.

Mrs. HANSEN. Arizona and New Mexico are the principal ones? Mr. PROULX. Yes.

(The information follows:)

E.

1. NURSING HOME CARE

2. PERSONAL CARE ONLY

3. ADC CHILD IN BOARDING SCHOOL

SAME AS A.1, A.2, OR A.3
SAME

AS A.1, A.2, OR A.3

$160 PER PERSON, PAID AS VENDOR PAYMENT

$12 PER PERSON

$24 PER CHILD

AUTHORIZED SPECIAL NEEDS WHICH MAY BE ADDED TO THE ASSISTANCE PLAN

1. FOOD FOR GUIDE DOG FOR BLIND RECIPIENT: $12.00 PER MONTH.

2. HOUSEKEEPER SERVICE AS REQUIRED; $1.30/HR. NOT TO EXCEED $35.00 PER MONTH.

3. HIGH SCHOOL BOOKS AND SUPPLIES:$10.00 PER MONTH PER STUDENT.

4. ESSENTIAL HOUSING REPAIRS OR IMPROVEMENTS VERIFIED BY CONTRACT; NOT TO EXCEED $300
FOR 36 MONTHS.

5. TELEPHONE, IF INSTALLED, FOR TUBERCULAR PATIENTS APPROVED FOR HOME CARE OR FOR
CASES APPROVED FOR VISITING NURSE OR NURSE-AIDE CARE, OR TO OTHER RECIPIENTS
WHOSE NEED FOR A TELEPHONE IS BASED ON MEDICAL REASONS CERTIFIED BY A PHYSICIAN,
IN AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE MINIMUM LOCAL RATE AVAILABLE.

6. VERIFIED ADDITIONAL HOUSING EXPENSE BY SELF-SUPPORTING RELATIVE INCURRED IN
ORDER TO PROVIDE ACCOMODATIONS FOR A RECIPIENT; $15 PER MONTH.

*SELF-SUPPORTING RELATIVE-PARENT; STEP-PARENT; ADULT SON, DAUGHTER, STEPSON OR STEPDAUGHTER;
ADULT BROTHER OR SISTER; AUNT OR UNCLE (BY BLOOD); OR GRANDPARENT: (1) WHO HAS DETERMINABLE
INCOME WHICH EXCEEDS HIS NEEDS BY 30 PER CENT OR MORE; OR (2) WHO HAS ASSETS IN EXCESS OF THE LIMIT
SET BY LAW FOR A NEEDY PERSON.