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WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2003

The Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota is breaking ground tomorrow on a new health care center to replace an aging Indian Health Service facility.

To be completed in three years, the Sisseton-Wahpeton Health Care Center will be larger and better staffed and equipped than the current facility, which dates to 1937, officials said. "Our existing facility was hospital was built when Franklin D. Roosevelt was president -- a long, long time ago," said chairman J.C. Crawford.

Funds for the project are included in the Department of Interior's fiscal year 2004 bill, the tribe reported. The $17.9 million, to be spaced out over two years, will cover 50 percent of the total cost.

Tribal officials credited South Dakota Sens. Tom Daschle (D) and Tim Johnson (D) for helping secure funds, along with Rep. Charles Taylor (R-N.C.), chairman of the House Interior Appropriations subcommittee.

The new facility will provide emergency services to the tribe and host a wide variety of health care programs.

Relevant Links:
Indian Health Service - http://www.ihs.gov