REFERENCE TITLE: higher education grants; Indian education

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

2021

SCM 1004

Introduced by

Senators Peshlakai: Alston, Bowie, Boyer, Contreras, Engel, Gabaldon, Gonzales, Marsh, Mendez, Navarrete, Otondo, Quezada, Rios, Steele; Representatives Cook, Jermaine, Teller, Tsosie

A CONCURRENT MEMORIAL

urging the united states congress to implement steps to forward fund the higher education grant program of the bureau of indian education.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

To the Congress of the United States of America:

Your memorialist respectfully represents:

Whereas, the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) operates the Higher Education Grant Program ("Grant") as authorized by the Snyder Act (25 United States Code part 13); and

Whereas, numerous Indian tribal governments provide college financial assistance and scholarships from the Grant directly to Indian college students through Public Law 93-638 self-determination contracts (Indian Self Determination Act and Education Assistance Act) or through a Public Law 103-413 self-governance compacts (Tribal Self Governance Act of 1994); and

Whereas, the federal government routinely operates under continuing resolutions and, as such, Grant funding is delayed. Consequently, college scholarship and financial assistance payments and institutional disbursements are delayed, which is problematic for many Indian college students who depend on these monies to pay for tuition, books and room and board; and

Whereas, there is precedent for forward funding of federal Indian education programs, as BIE-funded schools, including Public Law 93-638 and Public Law 100-297 schools (25 United States Code section 2010) and tribally controlled colleges and universities (25 United States Code section 1810) are forward funded; and

Whereas, forward funding of the BIE would make Grant monies available for obligation on July 1 of the fiscal year and would provide that Grant monies remain available until September 30 of the succeeding fiscal year.

Wherefore your memorialist, the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring, prays:

1. That the Members of the United States Congress take affirmative steps to forward fund the Higher Education Grant Program of the Bureau of Indian Education.

2. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona.