III

103D CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. RES. 264

Expressing the sense of the Senate that the President should issue an Executive order to promote and expand Federal assistance for Indian institutions of higher education and foster the advancement of the National

Education Goals for Indians.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

SEPTEMBER 21 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 12), 1994

Mr. MCCAIN (for himself, Mr. INOUYE, Mr. CAMPBELL, Mr. BAUCUS, Mr.

BINGAMAN, Mr. DASCHLE, Mr. DECONCINI, Mr. DOMENICI, Mr. DORGAN, Mr. FEINGOLD, Mr. GORTON, Mrs. KASSEBAUM, Mr. KOHL, Mr.

LEVIN, Mr. PRESSLER, Mr. RIEGLE, Mr. SIMON, and Mr. WELLSTONE)

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee

on Indian Affairs

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Senate that the President should

issue an Executive order to promote and expand Federal

assistance for Indian institutions of higher education and

foster the advancement of the National Education Goals

for Indians.

Whereas the Federal Government has a special trust relationship and a fiduciary duty to Indians;

Whereas the progressive development of policies of the Federal Government with respect to the education of Indians

has provided for the establishment, control, and administration by Indian tribes of institutions of higher edu-
2

•SRES 264 IS

cation and other educational institutions on or near Indian reservations;

Whereas Indian institutions of higher education were established pursuant to the Navajo Community College Act

(25 U.S.C. 640a et seq.), the Tribally Controlled Community College Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801

et seq.), the Tribally Controlled Vocational Institutions

Support Act of 1990 (20 U.S.C. 2397 et seq.), part A

of title XIV of the Higher Education Act Amendments of

1986 (20 U.S.C. 4411 et seq.) and the Act of November

2, 1921 (popularly referred to as the ‘‘Snyder Act’’) (42

Stat. 208, chapter 115; 25 U.S.C. 13) to provide postsecondary educational opportunities to Indian students

for whom such opportunities may not otherwise exist;

Whereas as of the date of adoption of this resolution, Indian

institutions of higher education have a combined enrollment of more than 16,000 students and serve more than

300 Indian tribes nationwide;

Whereas such institutions are located in 13 States, including

Arizona, California, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota,

Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South

Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin;

Whereas Indian institutions of higher education promote tribal sovereignty and self-determination and individual academic achievement;

Whereas, despite the overall improvement of educational opportunities for Indians within the 20-year period preceding the date of adoption of this resolution, Indian institutions of higher education remain severely underfunded

and Indians continue to experience the lowest overall at-
3

•SRES 264 IS

tendance rate at institutions of higher education in the

United States;

Whereas the lack of Federal assistance for promoting the National Education Goals contained in the Goals 2000:

Educate America Act for Indians and the lack of awareness of the successful contributions of tribal colleges to

tribal communities and tribal members has frustrated the

efforts of Indian institutions of higher education to secure continuing and sufficient funding, staff, and educational resources that are vital to successful academic

institutions; and

Whereas, on November 1, 1993, the President issued Executive Order No. 12876, establishing a Presidential Advisory Committee on Historically Black Colleges and Universities and on February 22, 1994, the President issued

Executive Order No. 12900 establishing an Advisory

Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic

Americans to advance the National Education Goals contained in the Goals 2000: Educate America Act and increase opportunities for underserved African-Americans

and Hispanic-Americans to participate in the benefits of

Federal education programs: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the

2 President should issue an Executive order to promote and

3 expand Federal assistance for Indian institutions of higher

4 education and foster the advancement of the National

5 Education Goals contained in the Goals 2000: Educate

6 America Act for Indians.

Æ