Dine College Act of 2015

To fulfill the United States Government’s trust responsibility to serve the higher education needs of the Navajo people and to clarify, unify, and modernize prior Diné College legislation. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Diné College Act of 2015 2. Findings Congress finds as follows: (1) The Treaty of 1868 between the United States of America and the Navajo Tribe of Indians provides for the education of the citizens of the Navajo Nation. (2) The Navajo Nation created and chartered the Navajo Community College by Resolution CN–95–68 as a wholly owned educational entity of the Navajo Nation. (3) In 1971, Congress enacted the Navajo Community College Act ( Public Law 92–189 25 U.S.C. 640a et seq. (4) The Navajo Nation officially changed the name of the Navajo Community College to Diné College by Resolution CAP–35–97. (5) The purpose of Diné College is to provide educational opportunities to the Navajo people and others in areas important to the economic and social development of the Navajo Nation. (6) The educational philosophy of Diné College is to apply principles of Sa'ah Naagháí Bik'eh Hózhóón (Diné Philosophy) to advance quality student learning through training of the mind and heart. (7) The United States has a trust and treaty responsibility to the Navajo Nation to provide for the educational opportunities for Navajo people. (8) Significant portions of the Diné College’s infrastructure are dilapidated and pose a serious health and safety risk to students, employees, and the public. (9) This Act is consistent with Executive Order 13592 (76 Fed. Reg. 76603, relating to improving American Indian and Alaska Native educational opportunities and strengthening tribal colleges and universities) and fulfills the United States Government's trust responsibility to serve the educational needs of the Navajo people. 3. Purpose The purpose of this Act is to ensure that the Navajo Nation and Navajo people— (1) exercise their right to self-determination, particularly in matters relating to their internal and local affairs; (2) maintain and strengthen their distinct institutions of higher education through the teaching of the Navajo language, culture, traditions, and history; and (3) improve their economic and social conditions through higher education and postsecondary vocational training. 4. Definitions In this Act: (1) Appropriate committees of Congress The term appropriate committees of Congress (A) the Committee on Indian Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Natural Resources, the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. (2) College The term College (3) Operation and maintenance The term operation and maintenance (4) Infrastructure The term infrastructure (5) Renovations and repairs The term renovations and repairs (6) Secretary The term Secretary 5. Authorization of Diné College Congress authorizes the Diné College to receive all Federal funding and resources under this Act and other laws for its operation, improvement, and growth, including— (1) to provide programs of higher education for citizens of the Navajo Nation and others; (2) to provide vocational and technical education for citizens of the Navajo Nation and others; (3) to preserve and protect the Navajo language, philosophy, and culture for citizens of the Navajo Nation and others; (4) to provide Navajo communities and people with employment and training opportunities; (5) to provide economic development and community outreach for Navajo communities and people; and (6) to provide a safe learning, working, and living environment for students, employees, and the public. 6. Facilities and capital projects From amounts made available under section 8(c), the Diné College may undertake any renovations and repairs to the infrastructure of the College identified in the survey, study, and report carried out under section 9. 7. Status of funds Funds provided under this Act to the Diné College may be treated as non-Federal, private funds of the College for purposes of any provision of Federal law which requires that non-Federal or private funds of the College be used in a project for a specific purpose. 8. Authorization of appropriations (a) In General There are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the Diné College, for each fiscal year, such sums as may be necessary to pay for the operation and maintenance of the College. (b) Budget Placement The Secretary shall fund the operation and maintenance of the Diné College separately from tribal colleges and universities recognized and funded by the Tribally Controlled College or University Assistance Act of 1978 ( 25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. (c) Facilities and Capital Projects In addition to amounts appropriated under subsection (a), there are authorized to be appropriated $7,500,000, for each fiscal year, to carry out section 6. 9. Survey, study, and report (a) In general The Secretary shall conduct a detailed survey and study of all capital projects and facility needs of the Diné College, and shall report the results of such survey and study to the appropriate committees of Congress not later than October 31, 2016. Such report shall include recommendations by the Secretary and any recommendations or views submitted by the College and the Navajo Nation regarding the capital projects and facility needs of the College. (b) Inventory Not later than January 31, 2016, an inventory prepared by Diné College identifying repairs, alterations, and renovations to facilities required to meet health and safety standards and other factors shall be submitted to the Secretary. The Secretary shall use the inventory as baseline data to inform the survey, study, and report required under subsection (a). (c) Administrative expenses Funds to carry out this section may be drawn from general administrative appropriations to the Secretary. 10. Supersession of Navajo Community College Act This Act supersedes— (1) the Navajo Community College Act ( Public Law 92–189 (2) the Navajo Community College Assistance Act of 1978 ( Public Law 95–471 (3) the Navajo Nation Higher Education Act of 2010 ( Public Law 110–315 11. Continuing eligibility for other Federal funds Except as explicitly provided for in other Federal law, nothing in this Act shall preclude the eligibility of the Diné College to received Federal funding and resources under any program authorized under the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq. Public Law 103–382 7 U.S.C. 301

Summary: Dine College Act of 2015 Authorizes Dine College to receive federal funding and resources for its operation, improvement, and growth, including to: provide higher education programs and vocational and technical education for citizens of the Navajo Nation and others; preserve and protect the Navajo language, philosophy, and culture for citizens of the Navajo Nation and others; provide Navajo communities and people with employment and training opportunities; provide economic development and community outreach for Navajo communities and people; and provide a safe learning, working, and living environment for students, employees, and the public. Authorizes appropriations to Dine College to pay for its operation and maintenance. Allows such funds to be treated as non-federal, private funds for purposes of any provision of federal law that requires that non-federal or private funds of the College be used in a project for a specific purpose. Directs the Department of the Interior to fund the operation and maintenance of the College separately from tribal colleges and universities recognized and funded by the Tribally Controlled College or University Assistance Act of 1978. Directs: (1) an inventory prepared by the College identifying repairs, alterations, and renovations to facilities required to meet health and safety standards and other factors to be submitted to Interior by January 31, 2016; (2) Interior to conduct a detailed survey of all capital projects and facility needs of the College and to report to specified congressional committees by October 31, 2016; and (3) Interior to use the College's inventory as baseline data to inform the survey. Authorizes the College to use funds provided under this Act to undertake any renovations and repairs to the infrastructure of the College identified in the survey.