[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3753-S3754]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 6572. Mr. HEINRICH (for himself and Mr. Gallego) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following:
SEC. 1__. INDIAN SCHOOL EQUALIZATION FORMULA.
(a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are to study--
(1) the resources that Bureau-funded schools need to
provide competitive salaries and benefits to recruit and
retain high-quality teachers, administrators, and all school
staff;
(2) funding and other resources needed by the Bureau of
Indian Education to ensure that students attending Bureau-
funded schools receive a high-quality education; and
(3) potential revenue sources to bring Bureau of Indian
Education funding, resources, and salaries into parity with
other school systems.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Assistant secretary.--The term ``Assistant Secretary''
means the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs.
(2) Bureau-funded school.--The term ``Bureau-funded
school'' has the meaning given the term in section 1141 of
the Education Amendments of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 2021).
(3) Indian school equalization formula.--The term ``Indian
School Equalization Formula'' means the Indian School
Equalization
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Formula described in subparts B and C of part 39 of title 25,
Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).
(4) Indian school equalization program.--The term ``Indian
School Equalization Program'' means the Indian School
Equalization Program described in part 39 of title 25, Code
of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).
(5) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' means any
Indian or Alaska Native Tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village,
or other community included on the most recent list published
by the Secretary under section 104 of the Federally
Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131).
(6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(7) Tribally controlled school.--The term ``tribally
controlled school'' has the meaning given the term in section
5212 of the Tribally Controlled Schools Act of 1988 (25
U.S.C. 2511).
(c) Indian School Equalization Formula Study.--
(1) Study required.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, and in accordance with subparagraph
(C), the Secretary, in coordination with the Assistant
Secretary and the Director of the Bureau of Indian Education,
shall carry out a study relating to updating the Indian
School Equalization Formula, including by completing the
process of developing alternative methods for the equitable
distribution of the Indian School Equalization Formula, with
consideration given to the factors described in subparagraph
(B).
(B) Factors described.--The factors referred to in
subparagraph (A) are the following:
(i) Ensuring that the Indian School Equalization Formula
provides sufficient funding to adequately fund Bureau-funded
schools, including--
(I) schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Education; and
(II) tribally controlled schools.
(ii) The highest rate of basic compensation, which shall be
equal to the higher of--
(I) the highest quartile or average State-by-State salaries
for school teachers, principals, other leadership positions,
and all school staff at public schools that are not Bureau-
funded schools; and
(II) the rate of basic compensation for teacher and
teaching positions in the Department of Defense as determined
under the Defense Department Overseas Teachers Pay and
Personnel Practices Act (20 U.S.C. 901 et seq.).
(C) Requirements.--In carrying out the study of the Indian
School Equalization Formula under subparagraph (A), the
Secretary shall--
(i) ensure that an updated Indian School Equalization
Formula provides sufficient funding to fully support salaries
for school teachers, principals, other leadership positions,
and all school staff at a rate commensurate with salaries of
non-Bureau of Indian Education teachers, principals, other
leadership positions, and all school staff described in
subclauses (I) and (II) of subparagraph (B)(ii);
(ii) consider the weights or ratios related to--
(I) tribally controlled schools;
(II) schools with fewer than 100 students; and
(III) schools located in rural areas; and
(iii) ensure that, in an updated Indian School Equalization
Formula, that Havasupai Elementary School is awarded an
additional cost factor of 12.5 Weighted Student Unit (as
defined in section 39.2 of title 25, Code of Federal
Regulations (or a successor regulation)).
(2) Report.--The Secretary, in coordination with the
Assistant Secretary and the Director of the Bureau of Indian
Education, and in consultation with national organizations
representing Indian Tribes and students attending Bureau-
funded schools, shall submit to Congress and make publicly
available to Indian Tribes a report describing--
(A) the adequacy of the Indian School Equalization Formula
and the Indian School Equalization Program in fulfilling the
needs of Bureau-funded schools and tribally controlled
schools; and
(B) recommendations for increasing or modifying factors to
improve the Indian School Equalization Formula.
(d) Study of Revenue Resources.--Not later than 1 year
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in
coordination with the Assistant Secretary and the Director of
the Bureau of Indian Education, shall carry out a study to
identify potential revenue sources to bring Bureau-funded
schools into parity with other schools.
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