WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Tom Daschle met Feb. 27 with James “J.C.” Crawford, the new chairman of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe, to discuss the tribe’s agenda for the upcoming legislative session. They were joined at the meeting by outgoing Chairman Andy Grey, Tribal Secretary Mike Peters, Health Coordinator Sara DeCoteau and Enemy Swim Day School Superintendent Sherry Johnson.
Crawford was inaugurated as the new chairman in January, replacing Grey who was term-limited.
“I was so pleased to meet Chairman Crawford. He has some big shoes to fill, but I am confidant that he will do so,” Daschle said. “I was proud to work with Andy during his administration, and I look forward to working with J.C.”
The group discussed how they could work together in Congress to improve the quality of life in Indian country. Specifically, they discussed the $3 million appropriated in the fiscal year 2003 Omnibus Appropriations bill for the new Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe Indian Health Service facility, and how to ensure that the construction funding continued in 2004; funding for construction of the Enemy Swim Day School; the Tribe’s concerns with the President’s proposal to reorganize Head Start; and welfare reform reauthorization.
“I am deeply committed to fighting for Indian health funding as well as Sisseton-Wahpeton’s key projects,” Daschle said.
