[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 54 (Thursday, April 26, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3985-S3986]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I would like to engage the Senior Senator 
from Iowa in a colloquy about funding for the Nation's 32 tribal 
colleges and universities.
  These schools, located in 12 States, serve more than 250 federally 
recognized tribes nationwide. The colleges serve students older than 
the traditional college age who are seeking another chance at a 
productive life. The vast majority of tribal college students are 
first-generation college students.
  However, the States provide little, if any, funding to the tribal 
colleges and universities because the vast majority of tribal colleges 
are located on federal trust lands. Additionally, non-Indians account 
for about 20 percent of tribal college enrollments, although the States 
do not provide financial support for these students.
  Does the Senator from Iowa agree that the Federal Government needs to 
play a significant role in funding these schools?
  Mr. HARKIN. Yes, I agree with the Senator from North Dakota. The 
Federal Government provides the core operating funds for the tribal 
colleges and universities. Without this funding, many of them would 
have to close their doors.
  Mr. CONRAD. And is it the view of the Senator from Iowa that this 
funding has not reached the level authorized by the Tribally Controlled 
Colleges and Universities Assistance Act?
  Mr. HARKIN. The Senator from North Dakota is correct. Although annual 
appropriations for tribal colleges have increased in recent years, the 
per Indian student funding is still less than two-thirds the level 
authorized by law and significantly lower than the public support given 
to mainstream community students.
  Mr. CONRAD. I thank the Senator. I would also like to note that the 
need for federal funding is especially critical for these schools 
because most tribal colleges and universities were founded less than 25 
years ago and are located in rural and impoverished areas, and they do 
not have access to alumni-based funding sources and local financial 
support.
  Mr. JOHNSON. Given the circumstances described by the Senator from 
North Dakota and my own knowledge of the five tribal colleges in my own 
State, I ask that every effort be made in Fiscal Year 2002 and beyond 
to fund the colleges at the level at which they are authorized in the 
Tribally Controlled College and University Assistance Act. Would the 
Senator from Iowa agree that with respect to the education funding 
amendment adopted by the Senate that this will be a priority?
  Mr. HARKIN. Yes, I agree with the Senator from North Dakota that a 
portion of the funding provided by my amendment should be used to help 
close the gap between the level of funding authorized by the Tribally 
Controlled College and University Assistance Act and the level of 
funding the colleges are currently receiving. I believe the funding in 
my amendment is sufficient to meet the needs of the tribal colleges and 
universities as well as the other educational needs throughout the 
country.
  Mr. CONRAD. I thank the Senator for his remarks. I am pleased that 
the Senator from Iowa, who is a champion

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of education, shares my strongly-held view that Congress must continue 
work toward current statutory federal funding goals for the tribal 
colleges. I look forward to continuing to work with him on this.

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