FAIRBANKS -- In what could boost efforts to get rid of honey buckets in Alaska, President Bush will ask Congress to approve a 21 percent increase in federal spending on sanitation projects in Native American communities.
Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson announced the request Friday, but the agency has not yet determined how the money will be distributed.
"We're still waiting on those answers," said Dianne Hammack, spokeswoman for the Indian Health Service.
However, Hammack said in past years a substantial chunk of the money has come to Alaska.
Bush's budget for fiscal 2004 will request $114 million, up $20 million from the fiscal 2003 request, according to an agency news release.
The agency estimated the president's budget would provide water and waste disposal systems to 22,000 homes, about 2,600 more than under the current year's budget plan.
"Safe sanitation is simply crucial in helping to achieve long-term improvements in health for American Indians and Alaska Natives," said Thompson, who visited Alaska last year.
The INS says about 92 percent of Native American homes have a safe indoor water supply, but 8 percent do not. About 1 percent of all U.S. homes lack running water.
Federal agencies, including the IHS, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Agriculture, have been spending about $100 million annually in recent years for water and sewer work in Alaska.
The 2000 Census showed that Alaska continued to lead the nation in the percentage of homes without plumbing facilities. But progress is being made. About three-quarters of Alaska homes were equipped with flush toilets by 2001. The state's goal is to bring water and wastewater service to all households by 2005.
