Washington, DC—U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD), a member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that the full Senate is expected to pass the Fiscal Year 2010 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations bill this evening.  The bill includes $4 million in Johnson-secured funding for South Dakota projects.

“I was proud to use my seat on the Appropriations Committee to secure $4 million for South Dakota communities to combat crime, prevent violence and create jobs. Youth programs in South Dakota provide our kids with an opportunity to stay connected to their communities,” Johnson said. “Everyone deserves to live in a safe area and this funding is a step that direction by investing in our justice system.”

Johnson Secured Funding in the Bill Includes:

Boys and Girls Club of Aberdeen, SD - $200,000

This funding will be used by the Boys and Girls Club of Aberdeen to enhance services and programming and purchase property equipment and supplies.

Boys and Girls Club of Lower Brule - $300,000

This funding will be used by the Lower Brule Boys and Girls Club to enhance services and programming and purchase property equipment and supplies.  These funds will provide much-needed services to youth on the reservation. 

Boys and Girls Club of Marty, SD - $425,000

This funding will be used by the Boys and Girls Club of Marty to enhance services and programming and purchase property equipment and supplies.  These funds will provide much needed services to youth on the reservation. 

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe – Criminal Justice System - $1 million

Funding will be used for law enforcement, court operations, prosecutors, public defender’s office, and detention equipment and operations on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation.  These funds will create jobs and provide services to tribal members.

Cheyenne River Youth Project - $200,000

The funding would be used to jump-start certain programs and enhance the sustainability of existing programs at the teen center. This proposal would be focused on building sustainability for the project as a whole and each of its programs. The funding would also pay for programming items that are still lacking in the center, such as computers, art equipment, etc.  These funds will provide much needed services to youth on the reservation.

Oglala Sioux Tribe – Criminal Justice System - $1.2 million

Funds will be used for law enforcement, court operations, prosecutors, public defender’s office, and detention equipment and operations on the Oglala Indian Reservation.  These funds will create jobs and provide services to tribal members.

Rosebud Sioux Tribe – Criminal Justice System - $300,000

Funds will be used for law enforcement, court operations, prosecutors, public defender’s office, and detention equipment and operations on the Rosebud Indian Reservation. 

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe – Child Protection Services - $350,000

The Standing Rock Child Protection Services provides foster care and protective services to the Native residents of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation which straddles North and South Dakota.  This funding will provide for 16 new jobs in communities where there are extremely high unemployment rates.  In addition, these funds will be used to provide services to families in crisis. 

Yankton Sioux Tribe – Victim Advocate Program - $25,000

These funds will be used for the Yankton Sioux Tribe’s Victim Advocate Program which provides violence prevention services as well as after-care services when a violent crime has been committed. These services include youth prevention programs as well as community healing programs. 

National Funding Included in the Bill:

-          Violence Against Women Act Programs – $435M

-          CASA Advocates ­­– $15M

-          Tribal Sex Offender Registry – $1M

-          Byrne Competitive Grants – $40M

-          Drug Courts – $40M

-          Youth Mentoring Grants – $100M

-          COPS –  $658.5M

-          COPS Hiring – $100M

-          Tribal Law Enforcement – $20M