News from Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
For Immediate Release
Contact: Chip Weiskotten, 202-226-8553
Russ Levsen, 202-226-4449

HERSETH SANDLIN ANNOUNCES FUNDING FOR SOUTH DAKOTA PRIORITIES

Secures Resources for Children’s Home Society, Black Hills Nanoscale Minerals Institute, McGovern Library, Meth Treatment Unit, Wakpa Sica Reconciliation Place

July 19, 2007, Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin today announced funding for a number of South Dakota priorities today as part of recently approved appropriations bills. The bills include resources specifically requested by Rep. Herseth Sandlin for the Children’s Home Society, the National Children’s Study at South Dakota State University, a methamphetamine treatment unit for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, small business development at the South Dakota School of Mines, and the McGovern Library at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell.

Rep. Herseth Sandlin said, “I’m pleased to have secured funding for worthy and necessary priorities in South Dakota, including the areas of economic development, tribal justice systems, health care, social services, infrastructure improvements, and cultural enrichment.”

A more detailed description of the funded programs is below, broken down by spending bill:

Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill

$2.5 million for South Dakota State University from funding provided for the National Children’s Study, which is fully funded at $110.9 million. The President’s budget request for Fiscal Year 2008 sought to eliminate funding for the National Children’s Study (NCS) and phase it out. In March, Rep. Herseth Sandlin led a bipartisan group of more than 20 House members in writing to the leadership of the House Labor HHS Education Appropriations Subcommittee describing the need for $110.9 million in funding for the study and urging the landmark study remain strong among congressional priorities. SDSU in Brookings is one of seven NCS Vanguard Centers around the country. By tracking 100,000 children to age 21, the NCS will explore the major causes of childhood illnesses such as premature birth, asthma, obesity, preventable injury, autism, development delay, mental illness, and learning disorders. The NCS was developed and is being overseen by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. A total of 105 study sites are planned throughout the United States.

$250,000 for the Children’s Home Society, for services related to domestic violence, child abuse, and neglect. The Children’s Home Society is a non profit organization that runs the Children’s Inn in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Inn provides immediate shelter, treatment and recovery, for women and children who are in actual or potential situations of domestic violence, child abuse, and neglect. It also provides crisis intervention services to children, women and families and continuing counseling services to victims of abuse.

$100,000 for Rosebud Sioux Tribe, for facilities and equipment. This funding will be used to develop a Methamphetamine Treatment Unit attached to the existing Rosebud Sioux Tribe Alcohol & Drug Treatment Program Center. Clients who struggle with meth addictions require unique services which include a lengthier detoxification period, compared to alcohol or other drugs, as well as a specialized treatment which entails the collaborative efforts of a Multi-Disciplinary Team.

$50,000 for the George and Eleanor McGovern Library, Dakota Wesleyan University, for cataloging, preparing and archiving documents and artifacts relating to the public service of both Senator Francis Case and Senator McGovern.

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill

$150,000 for the Wakpa Sica Reconciliation Place, for facility construction and buildout. This important project forms the centerpiece of a comprehensive effort designed to improve economic conditions facing the tribes of the Great Sioux Nation, facilitate the development of tribal justice systems, and to promote reconciliation between Indians and non-Indians.

$200,000 for Pierre Rail Improvements. Currently, the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern right-of-way in Pierre, SD crosses Highway 34 in the middle of town. That grade crossing accommodates 19,000 vehicles per day, making it the single busiest grade crossing in the state. This funding will support an underpass to alleviate traffic congestion.

Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill

$231,000 for the South Dakota School of Mines, Black Hills Nanoscale Minerals Institute, infrastructure development. This funding is provided for initiatives like the Black Hills Nanoscale Minerals Institute (BHNMI) that are related to small business development and entrepreneurship. The infrastructure development at the School of Mines would help establish the BHNMI, which is intended to assist companies with engineering and manufacturing of products and processes that utilize nanoscale minerals. Development of applications of nanoscale minerals has significance to the local and state economy as Rapid City is near the center of high-quality deposits of minerals that have the potential for this kind of development.

The full House has approved the Financial Services and General Government bill and is expected to approve the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education bill tonight. The House Appropriations Committee has approved the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development bill and the full House is expected to take up this bill shortly.

# # #

Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin serves South Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives. She is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate Democrats committed to fiscal discipline and strong national security, and is co-chair of the Rural Working Group, which is dedicated to raising the profile of issues important to rural America. She also serves on three committees vital to South Dakota’s interests: Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs and Natural Resources. In the 110th Congress, Rep. Herseth Sandlin was appointed to serve on the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.