To establish a program to provide assistance to institutions of higher education serving members of Indian tribes.

Summary: Native American Education Equity Act of 2003 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to establish a program that provides grants and related assistance to certain institutions of higher education (IHEs) serving Native Americans.

Makes an IHE eligible for such program if it: (1) is eligible under HEA title III part A general provisions for aid for Strengthening Institutions, but is not eligible for certain programs for American Indian tribally controlled colleges and universities or for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions; and (2) has an undergraduate enrollment that is at least 15 percent students who are members of Indian tribes (or of Alaska Native villages or regional or village corporations).

Sets forth examples of authorized activities to which grants may be applied such as: (1) buying, renting, or leasing scientific equipment for educational purposes; (2) renovating and improving classrooms and libraries; (3) supporting faculty exchanges and faculty fellowships; (4) funds and administrative management; and (5) academic tutoring and counseling programs. Directs the Secretary of Education to create a streamlined format enabling qualified institutions to apply for assistance.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Native American Education Equity Act 
of 2003''.

SEC. 2. ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

    Part A of title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965 is amended 
by inserting after section 317 (20 U.S.C. 1059d) the following new 
section:

``SEC. 318. NATIVE AMERICAN-SERVING INSTITUTIONS.

    ``(a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary shall provide grants and 
related assistance to Native American-serving institutions to enable 
such institutions to improve and expand their capacity to serve the 
members of Indian tribes.
    ``(b) Definitions.--For the purpose of this section--
            ``(1) the term `Indian tribe' means any Indian tribe, band, 
        nation, or other organized group or community, including any 
        Alaskan Native village or regional or village corporation as 
        defined in or established pursuant to the Alaskan Native Claims 
        Settlement Act, which is recognized as eligible for the special 
        programs and services provided by the United States to Indians 
        because of their status as Indians, or which is recognized as 
        an Indian tribe by law by any State or the District of 
        Columbia;
            ``(2) the term `Native American-serving institution' means 
        an institution of higher education that--
                    ``(A) is an eligible institution under section 
                312(b);
                    ``(B) is not an eligible institution for purposes 
                of section 316 or 317; and
                    ``(C) at the time of application, has an enrollment 
                of undergraduate students that is at least 15 percent 
                students who are members of one or more Indian tribes.
    ``(c) Authorized Activities.--
            ``(1) Types of activities authorized.--Grants awarded under 
        this section shall be used by Native American-serving 
        institutions to assist such institutions to plan, develop, 
        undertake, and carry out activities to improve and expand such 
        institutions' capacity to serve members of one or more Indian 
        tribes.
            ``(2) Examples of authorized activities.--Such programs may 
        include--
                    ``(A) purchase, rental, or lease of scientific or 
                laboratory equipment for educational purposes, 
                including instructional and research purposes;
                    ``(B) renovation and improvement in classroom, 
                library, laboratory, and other instructional 
                facilities;
                    ``(C) support of faculty exchanges, and faculty 
                development and faculty fellowships to assist in 
                attaining advanced degrees in the faculty's field of 
                instruction;
                    ``(D) curriculum development and academic 
                instruction;
                    ``(E) purchase of library books, periodicals, 
                microfilm, and other educational materials;
                    ``(F) funds and administrative management, and 
                acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening funds 
                management;
                    ``(G) joint use of facilities such as laboratories 
                and libraries; and
                    ``(H) academic tutoring and counseling programs and 
                student support services.
    ``(d) Application Process.--
            ``(1) Institutional eligibility.--Each Native American-
        serving institution desiring to receive assistance under this 
        section shall submit to the Secretary such enrollment data as 
        may be necessary to demonstrate that the institution is a 
        Native American-serving institution as defined in subsection 
        (b), along with such other information and data as the 
        Secretary may by regulation require.
            ``(2) Applications.--Any institution which is determined by 
        the Secretary to be a Native American-serving institution may 
        submit an application for assistance under this section to the 
        Secretary. The Secretary shall, to the extent possible, 
        prescribe a simplified and streamlined format for such 
        applications that takes into account the limited number of 
        institutions that are eligible for assistance under this 
        section. Such application shall include--
                    ``(A) a 5-year plan for improving the assistance 
                provided by the Native American-serving institution to 
                students who are members of one or more Indian tribes; 
                and
                    ``(B) such other information and assurance as the 
                Secretary may require.
            ``(3) Special rules.--
                    ``(A) Eligibility.--No Native American-serving 
                institution that receives funds under this section 
                shall concurrently receive funds under other provisions 
                of this part or part B.
                    ``(B) Exemption.--Section 313(d) shall not apply to 
                institutions that are eligible to receive funds under 
                this section.
                    ``(C) Distribution.--In awarding grants under this 
                section, the Secretary shall, to the extent possible 
                and consistent with the competitive process under which 
                such grants are awarded, ensure maximum and equitable 
                distribution among all eligible institutions.''.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 399(a)(1) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1068h(a)(1)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``section 316'' and 
        inserting ``sections 316, 317, and 318''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
            ``(D) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
        section 318, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2004 and such sums as 
        may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.''.