[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2564 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 666
114th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2564
[Report No. 114-373]
To modernize prior legislation relating to Dine College.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 23, 2016
Mr. Flake (for himself, Mr. McCain, Mr. Udall, and Mr. Heinrich)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Indian Affairs
November 15, 2016
Reported by Mr. Barrasso, without amendment
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To modernize prior legislation relating to Dine College.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Dine College Act of 2016''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) the Treaty between the United States of America and the
Navajo Tribe of Indians, done at Fort Sumner, New Mexico, June
1, 1868 (15 Stat. 667), provides for the education of the
citizens of the Navajo Nation;
(2) the Navajo Nation created and chartered the Navajo
Community College by Resolution CN- 95-68 as a wholly owned
educational entity of the Navajo Nation;
(3) in 1971, Congress enacted the Navajo Community College
Act (25 U.S.C. 640a et seq.);
(4) the Navajo Nation officially changed the name of the
Navajo Community College to ``Dine College'' by Resolution CAP-
35-97; and
(5) the purpose of Dine College is to provide educational
opportunities to the Navajo people and others in areas
important to the economic and social development of the Navajo
Nation.
SEC. 3. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to ensure that the Navajo Nation and
Navajo people--
(1) exercise their right to self-determination,
particularly in matters relating to the internal and local
affairs of the Navajo Nation;
(2) maintain and strengthen distinct institutions of higher
education through the teaching of the Navajo language, culture,
traditions, and history; and
(3) improve the economic and social conditions of the
Navajo Nation and Navajo people through higher education and
postsecondary vocational training.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Indian Affairs and the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Natural Resources, the
Committee on Education and the Workforce, and the
Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
(2) College.--The term ``College'' means Dine College.
(3) Infrastructure.--
(A) In general.--The term ``infrastructure'' means
the buildings, water and sewer facilities, roads, and
information technology and telecommunications
infrastructure of the College.
(B) Inclusions.--The term ``infrastructure''
includes classrooms and external matters such as
walkways.
(4) Operation and maintenance.--The term ``operation and
maintenance'' means--
(A) costs and expenses associated with the
customary daily operation of the College; and
(B) necessary maintenance costs of the College.
(5) Renovation and repair.--The term ``renovation and
repair'' means modernization and improvement to the
infrastructure.
(6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
SEC. 5. SURVEY, STUDY, AND REPORT.
(a) In General.--
(1) Survey, study, and report.--Not later than January 31,
2017, in accordance with subsection (b), the Secretary shall
conduct, and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a
report on the results of, a detailed survey and study of all
capital projects and facility needs of the College.
(2) Inclusions in report.--The report described in
paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) recommendations by the Secretary; and
(B) any recommendations or views submitted by the
College or the Navajo Nation regarding the capital
projects and facility needs of the College.
(b) Inventory.--
(1) In general.--Not later than August 1, 2016, the College
shall prepare and submit to the Secretary an inventory that
identifies the renovations and repairs necessary to meet--
(A) health and safety standards; and
(B) any other requirements the College determines
necessary.
(2) Use of inventory.--The Secretary shall use the
inventory described in paragraph (1) as baseline data to inform
the survey, study, and report under subsection (a).
(c) Administrative Expenses.--The Secretary may use to carry out
this section amounts made available to the Secretary in general
administrative appropriations.
SEC. 6. GRANTS AUTHORIZED.
(a) Construction Grants.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall make grants to the
College for construction activities, including the renovation
and repair or construction of buildings, water and sewer
facilities, roads, information technology and
telecommunications infrastructure, classrooms, and external
structures (such as walkways) identified in the survey, study,
and report under section 5.
(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out paragraph (1)
$2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2020, to
remain available until expended unless otherwise provided in an
appropriations Act.
(b) Operation and Maintenance Grants.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall make grants to the
College for operation and maintenance activities, including--
(A) basic, special, developmental, vocational,
technical, and special handicapped education costs;
(B) annual capital expenditures, including
equipment needs, minor capital improvements and
remodeling projects, physical plant maintenance and
operation costs, and an exceptions and supplemental
needs account;
(C) summer and special interest programs;
(D) major capital improvements, including internal
capital outlay funds and capital improvement projects;
(E) mandatory payments, including payments due on
bonds, loans, notes, or lease purchases;
(F) supplemental student services, including
student housing, food service, and the provision of
access to books and services; and
(G) improving and expanding the College, including
by providing for the Navajo people and others in the
community of the College--
(i) higher education programs;
(ii) career and technical education;
(iii) activities relating to the
preservation and protection of the Navajo
language, philosophy, and culture;
(iv) employment and training opportunities;
(v) economic development and community
outreach; and
(vi) a safe learning, working, and living
environment.
(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out paragraph (1)
such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2017
through 2020, to remain available until expended unless
otherwise provided in an appropriations Act.
SEC. 7. STATUS OF FUNDS.
Amounts made available to the College under this Act may be treated
as non-Federal, private funds of the College for purposes of any
provision of Federal law that requires that non-Federal or private
funds of the College be used in a project for a specific purpose.
SEC. 8. EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS.
This Act supersedes--
(1) the Navajo Community College Act (25 U.S.C. 640a et
seq.);
(2) the Navajo Community College Assistance Act of 1978 (25
U.S.C. 640a note; Public Law 95-471); and
(3) the Navajo Nation Higher Education Act of 2008 (25
U.S.C. 640a note; Public Law 110-315).
SEC. 9. CONTINUING ELIGIBILITY FOR OTHER FEDERAL FUNDS.
Except as explicitly provided in other Federal law, nothing in this
Act precludes the eligibility of the College to receive Federal funding
and resources under any program authorized under--
(1) the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et
seq.);
(2) the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994
(7 U.S.C. 301 note; Public Law 103-382); or
(3) any other applicable program for the benefit of
institutions of higher education, community colleges, or
postsecondary educational institutions.
Calendar No. 666
114th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2564
[Report No. 114-373]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To modernize prior legislation relating to Dine College.
_______________________________________________________________________
November 15, 2016
Reported without amendment