[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 21, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 21, 1994]



   SENATE RESOLUTION 264--RELATIVE TO INDIAN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER 
                               EDUCATION

  Mr. McCAIN (for himself, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Baucus, Mr. 
Bingaman, Mr. Daschle, Mr. DeConcini, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. 
Feingold, Mr. Gorton, Mrs. Kassebaum, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Levin, Mr. 
Pressler, Mr. Riegle, Mr. Simon, and Mr. Wellstone) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Indian 
Affairs:

                              S. Res. 264

       Whereas the Federal Government has a special trust 
     relationship and a fiduciary duty to Indians;
       Whereas the progressive development of policies of the 
     Federal Government with respect to the education of Indians 
     has provided for the establishment, control, and 
     administration by Indian tribes of institutions of higher 
     education and other educational institutions on or near 
     Indian reservations;
       Whereas Indian institutions of higher education were 
     established pursuant to the Navajo Community College Act (25 
     U.S.C. 640a et seq.), the Tribally Controlled Community 
     College Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), the 
     Tribally Controlled Vocational Institutions Support Act of 
     1990 (20 U.S.C. 2397 et seq.), part A of title XIV of the 
     Higher Education Act Amendments of 1986 (20 U.S.C. 4411 et 
     seq.) and the Act of November 2, 1921 (popularly referred to 
     as the ``Snyder Act'') (42 Stat. 208, chapter 115; 25 U.S.C. 
     13) to provide post-secondary educational opportunities to 
     Indian students for whom such opportunities may not otherwise 
     exist;
       Whereas as of the date of adoption of this resolution, 
     Indian institutions of higher education have a combined 
     enrollment of more than 16,000 students and serve more than 
     300 Indian tribes nationwide;
       Whereas such institutions are located in 13 States, 
     including Arizona, California, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, 
     Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South 
     Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin;
       Whereas Indian institutions of higher education promote 
     tribal sovereignty and self-determination and individual 
     academic achievement;
       Whereas despite the overall improvement of educational 
     opportunities of Indians within the 20-year period preceding 
     the date of adoption of this resolution, Indian institutions 
     of higher education remain severely underfunded and Indians 
     continue to experience the lowest overall attendance rate at 
     institutions of higher education in the United States;
       Whereas the lack of Federal assistance for promoting the 
     national Education Goals contained in the Goals 2000: Educate 
     America Act for Indians and the lack of awareness of the 
     successful contributions of tribal colleges to tribal 
     communities and tribal members has frustrated the efforts of 
     Indian institutions of higher education to secure continuing 
     and sufficient funding, staff, and educational resources that 
     are vital to successful academic institutions; and
       Whereas on November 1, 1993, the President issued Executive 
     Order No. 12876, establishing a Presidential Advisory 
     Committee on Historically Black Colleges and Universities and 
     on February 22, 1994, the President issued Executive Order 
     No. 12900 establishing an Advisory Commission on Educational 
     Excellence for Hispanic Americans to advance the National 
     Education Goals contained in the Goals 2000: Educate America 
     Act and increase opportunities for underserved African-
     Americans and Hispanic-Americans to participate in the 
     benefits of Federal education programs: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the 
     President should issue an Executive order to promote and 
     expand Federal assistance for Indian institutions of higher 
     education and foster the advancement of the National 
     Education Goals contained in the Goals 2000: Educate America 
     Act for Indians.

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I rise to submit a resolution to express 
the sense of the Senate that the President should issue an Executive 
order to promote and expand Federal assistance for Indian institutions 
of higher education. I am pleased that Senators Inouye, Campbell, 
Baucus, Bingaman, Daschle, DeConcini, Domenici, Dorgan, Feingold, 
Gorton, Kassebaum, Kohl, Levin, Pressler, Riegle, Simon, and Wellstone 
have joined me in introducing this resolution.
  Mr. President, my colleagues and I believe that Federal support for 
Indian institutions of higher education is vital to the continuing 
success of tribally controlled community colleges, vocational programs, 
post-secondary institutions, and the individuals they serve. 
Unfortunately, although Indian educational institutions are 
experiencing an overall rise in college attendance rates, they have not 
experienced the benefits of Federal resources and programs to the 
extent of other underserved populations. It is my hope that an 
Executive order, similar to those issued for historically black 
colleges and universities and educational excellence for Hispanic-
Americans, will correct this oversight.
  In keeping with the Federal Government's trust responsibility and 
fiduciary duty to Indian tribes, an Executive order would serve to 
advance the Federal policy on Indian education. One of the earliest 
examples of this policy is the establishment in 1884 of the Haskell 
Indian School located in Lawrence, KS. Originally, Haskell enrolled 
Indian children in grades one through five and emphasized agricultural 
development. Today, Haskell Indian Nations University has evolved into 
an institution with a much broader curriculum. The proposed Executive 
order would also promote tribal sovereignty and recognize the 
accomplishments of the existing tribal colleges established pursuant to 
the Navajo Community College Act of 1970 and the Tribally Controlled 
Community College Assistance Act of 1978. Each of the cosponsors of 
this resolution are keenly aware of the benefits which Indian 
institutions of higher education provide to residents of their States. 
Not only do these colleges enroll Indian students in post-secondary 
programs, they also provide the same opportunities for non-Indian 
students residing in rural areas. I strongly believe that these 
colleges provide an excellent example of what Indian tribes are capable 
of accomplishing.

  Mr. President, 4 years ago less than 10 percent of the reservation 
Indian students who went directly from high school graduation to a non-
Indian 2-year or 4-year institution succeeded in obtaining a degree. 
Since only about 10 percent of the high school graduates attempted to 
go to a non-Indian institution, the overall success rate for high 
school graduates was actually around 1 percent. Today, tribal colleges 
encourage Indian students who might otherwise be deterred from pursuing 
a college education to continue their education. They enroll over 
16,000 Indian students and provide courses comparable to State 
community colleges and have established a successful track record of 
retention, matriculation, and ongoing educational and job placement. 
Although student enrollment continues to grow and the area of Indian 
education has generally improved in the last 20 years, Indian tribes 
continue to experience the lowest overall college attendance rate in 
the United States.
  Clearly, Indians experience different obstacles as compared to 
African-American and Hispanic-American students which should be taken 
into consideration by the responsible Federal agencies. Among the 
greatest barriers to increased resources and program availability for 
tribal colleges is the lack of awareness within the Federal Government 
of their existence. Therefore, at the very least, an Executive order 
would bring to the attention of all Federal departments and agencies 
the fact that tribal colleges do exist and to require the inclusion of 
tribal colleges and vocational institutions in Federal policies and 
programs intended for institutions of higher education.
  Mr. President, a similar resolution sponsored by Congressman Joe 
Skeen and approximately 20 cosponsors is being considered in the House. 
Clearly Members of both Houses believe that promoting higher education 
for Indians is a matter of great importance for Indian tribes and the 
entire Nation. Twila Martin-Kekahbah, the former chairperson of the 
Turtle Mountain Chippewa Tribe summarized it best when she testified 
before the Committee on Indian Affairs during a hearing to reauthorize 
the Tribally Controlled Community College Act of 1978, when she stated, 
``Each of these successful students represent an individual insurance 
policy against unemployment and virtually assures that one more 
American Indian will become an effective and contributing citizen of 
the American democracy.''
  Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, I would like to express my support for a 
sense-of-the-Senate resolution introduced today by Senator McCain. This 
resolution calls for an Executive order to aid tribal colleges. In 
effect, the order would require Federal departments and agencies to 
make an effort to include tribal colleges in programs targeted at 
higher education institutions. Federal aid is vitally important to 
tribal colleges because they are located on Federal trust territory and 
receive little or no State funding.
  This action is long overdue. Other minority colleges and 
universities, including historically black and Hispanic institutions, 
have had similar orders for many years. This resolution would provide a 
great boost to the 29 tribally controlled and American Indian colleges 
across the country. My home State of South Dakota has five tribal 
colleges that would benefit including: the Cheyenne River Community 
College, Oglala Lakota College, Sinte Gleska College, Sisseton Wahpeton 
Community College, and the Standing Rock Community College.
  Some very disheartening statistics were released last week by the 
Census Bureau. South Dakota has three of the five poorest counties in 
the country. Shannon County is once again ranked the poorest in the 
country. Todd County is fourth on the list and Buffalo County is fifth. 
Sadly, all three of these counties have predominantly Indian 
populations.
  Education can be a powerful weapon in fighting poverty. Two of the 
counties I just mentioned, Shannon and Todd Counties, have tribal 
colleges. It is my hope that with these resolution, our tribal colleges 
could effectively ward off the unemployment and poverty that has 
plagued these areas. I commend our colleague from Arizona, Senator 
McCain, for his diligence on this issue. I am proud to add my name as 
an original cosponsor.

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