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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 2001

The federal agency whose public works projects have resulted in the disinterment of Sioux tribal ancestors in South Dakota doesn't need "fundamental changes," says President Bush's pick to oversee the Army Corps of Engineers.

Instead, says Mike Parker, the Corps needs help in sustaining attacks from budget planners who have stripped the agency of funding. The Corps also needs to do less environmental restoration work and more projects of the type which have affected Indian graves and sites, he says.

Parker went before the Senate Armed Services Committee for his confirmation hearing yesterday. The committee is expected to approve his nomination this week but he also has to go before the Environment and Public Works Committee.

The Yankton Sioux and Standing Rock Sioux tribes have sued the Army Corps for failing to rebury the bones of their ancestors. In the past couple of years, remains have washed up and been exposed.

The Corps has settled a lawsuit over remains of Standing Rock Sioux ancestors.

Parker is a former Congressman and a former Democrat who turned Republican when the GOP gained control of the House in 1995.

Get the Story:
The Defender of the Corps (The Washington Post 8/1)

Relevant Links:
Army Corps of Engineers - http://www.usace.army.mil
Senate Armed Services Committee - http://www.senate.gov/~armed_services
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee - http://www.senate.gov/~epw

Related Stories:
S.D. graves lawsuit settled (4/24)
Gravesite lawsuit delayed (11/29)
Tribe, Corps agree on remains (11/10)
Corps responds to gravesite order (11/08)
Tribe, Corps to work on reburial (11/3)
Tribe sues over exposed burials (10/26)
Army Corps to fund burial site study (10/19)