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Senator McCain (R-AZ) to introduce amendment to restore $56 million
for Indian Education programs. Please contact your Senator immediately
to gain her/his support for this amendment (to be introduced as early
as today).
Senator John McCain (R-AZ) has informed the NIEA that he plans to
introduce an amendment on the Senate floor to the Interior
Appropriations bill, H.R. 3662, which would restore $56 million to
Indian Education programs in the Departments of Interior and
Education. NIEA has worked with Senator McCain's office during the
past month in urging his support for increased Indian education
funding. NIEA urges all interested program directors, school
administrators, tribal education committees and others to contact
their Senators as soon as possible as well as members of the Senate
Appropriations Committee to urge their support of this much needed
amendment.
Senator McCain's amendment would provide $25 million to School
Operations and $14 million for new school construction in the BIA and
$17 million for the Office of Indian Education (OIE) in the Department
of Education. The $17 million would allow OIE to resume funding of
its discretionary programs - $5 million to adult education and
literacy programs and $12 million to special programs for Indian
children. These programs were eliminated in the deficit reduction
efforts of the last two years. The adult education funds, if
restored, would allow OIE to funding at least 30 Indian adult
education programs nationwide. Many of these programs are operated at
tribally chartered community colleges. The $56 million amendment
would bring Interior education funding levels to almost near the
Administration's request for these programs.
Once again, NIEA urges you to contact your Senators as well as other
key Senate appropriators as soon as possible urging their support of
the McCain Indian Education amendment. Please call the NIEA office at
703-838-2870 if you have any questions. Ask for Lorraine Edmo,
Executive Director or Jack C. Jackson, Jr., Legislative Analyst.
FYI:
US Senate Committee on Appropriations
202-224-3471
202-228-0542 fax