I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1659 
To fulfill the United States Government’s trust responsibility to serve the 
educational needs of the Navajo people. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 14, 2005 
Mr. RENZI (for himself, Mr. MATHESON, and Mr. UDALL of New Mexico) in-
troduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Edu-
cation and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To fulfill the United States Government’s trust responsibility 
to serve the educational needs of the Navajo people. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Navajo Nation Higher 
Education Act of 2004’’. 
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL 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 Nav-
ajo Nation. 
(2) In 1968, the Navajo Nation created and 
chartered the Navajo Community College by Resolu-
tion CN–95–68 as a wholly owned educational entity 
of the Navajo Nation. 
(3) In 1971, Congress enacted the Navajo Com-
munity College Act (Public Law 92–189; 25 U.S.C. 
640a et seq.). 
(4) In 1997, the Navajo Nation officially 
changed the name of the Navajo Community College 
to Dine´ College by Resolution CAP–35–97. 
(5) The purpose of Dine´ 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 mission of Dine´ College is to apply the 
principles of Sa’ah Naagha´ı´ Bik’eh Ho´zho´o´n (Dine´ 
Philosophy) to advance quality student learning 
through training of the mind and heart— 
(A) 
through 
Nitsa´ha´kees 
(Thinking), 
Nahata´ (Planning), Iina´ (Living), and Sihasin 
(Assurance); 
(B) in study of the Dine´ language, history, 
philosophy, and culture;
(C) in preparation for further studies and 
employment in a multicultural and technological 
world; and 
(D) in fostering social responsibility, com-
munity service, and scholarly research that con-
tribute to the social, economic, and cultural 
well-being of the Navajo Nation. 
(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 College’s infra-
structure are dilapidated and pose a serious health 
and safety risk to students, employees and the pub-
lic. 
(9) The purposes and intent of this Act are 
consistent with Executive Order 13270 on tribal col-
leges and universities and fulfill the United States 
Government’s trust responsibility to serve the edu-
cational needs of the Navajo people. 
(10) The purposes and intent of this Act are 
consistent with Executive Order 13336 on American 
Indian and Alaska Native education, issued on April 
30, 2004, and fulfill the United States Government’s 
responsibility to serve the education needs of the 
Navajo people.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
For the purposes of this Act: 
(1) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(2) NATION.—The term ‘‘Nation’’ means the 
Navajo Nation. 
(3) COLLEGE.—The term ‘‘College’’ means 
Dine´ College. 
(4) OPERATIONS
AND
MAINTENANCE.—The 
term ‘‘operation and maintenance’’ means all cost 
and expenses associated with the customary daily 
operation of the College and necessary maintenance 
costs. 
(5) INFRASTRUCTURE.—The term ‘‘infrastruc-
ture’’ means College buildings, water and sewer fa-
cilities, roads, foundation, information technology, 
and telecommunications, including classrooms and 
external matters such as walkways. 
(6) RENOVATIONS
AND
REPAIRS.—The term 
‘‘renovations and repairs’’ means modernization and 
improvements to the infrastructure. 
SEC. 4. REAUTHORIZATION OF DINE´ COLLEGE. 
Congress authorizes the Dine´ College to receive all 
Federal funding and resources under this Act and other 
laws for its operation, improvement, and growth, including 
(but not limited to) the following:
(1) to provide programs of higher education for 
citizens of the Nation and others; 
(2) to provide vocational and technical edu-
cation for citizens of the Nation and others; 
(3) to preserve and protect the Navajo lan-
guage, philosophy, and culture for citizens of the 
Nation and others; 
(4) to provide Navajo communities and people 
with employment and training opportunities; 
(5) to provide economic development and com-
munity outreach for Navajo communities and people; 
and 
(6) to provide a safe learning, working, and liv-
ing environment for students, employees, and the 
public. 
SEC. 5. FACILITIES AND CAPITAL PROJECTS. 
The College is authorized to expend money received 
pursuant to section 7(c) to undertake all renovations and 
repairs to the College’s infrastructure, as identified by a 
strategic plan approved by the College, and submitted to 
the Secretary. 
SEC. 6. STATUS OF FUNDS. 
Funds provided under this Act to the 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. 
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are hereby authorized to be 
appropriated to the College, for each fiscal year, such 
amounts as are necessary to pay for the operation and 
maintenance of the College. 
(b) BUDGET PLACEMENT.—The Secretary shall 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 (25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). 
(c) FACILITIES AND CAPITAL PROJECTS.—In addi-
tion to amounts appropriated under subsection (a), there 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 5, 
$15,000,000 for each of the first 5 fiscal years beginning 
after the date of enactment of this Act. Such amounts may 
be funded through any one or more of the following agen-
cies: 
(1) the Department of Interior; 
(2) the Department of Education; 
(3) the Department of Heath and Human Serv-
ices; 
(4) the Department of Housing and Urban De-
velopment;
(5) the Department of Commerce; 
(6) the Environmental Protection Agency; 
(7) the Department of Veterans Affairs; 
(8) the Department of Agriculture; 
(9) the Department of Homeland Security; 
(10) the Department of Defense; 
(11) the Department of Labor; and 
(12) the Department of Transportation. 
SEC. 8. SURVEY, STUDY, AND REPORT. 
(a) INFORMATION
TO CONGRESS.—The Secretary 
shall conduct a detailed survey and study of all capital 
projects and facility needs of the College, and shall report 
the results of such survey and study to Congress not later 
than October 31, 2009. Such report shall include any rec-
ommendations or views submitted by the College and the 
Nation, and shall include detailed recommendations by the 
Secretary. 
(b) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—Funds to carry 
out this section may be drawn from general administrative 
appropriations to the Secretary. 
SEC. 9. SUPERSESSION OF NAVAJO COMMUNITY COLLEGE 
ACT. 
This Act supersedes the Navajo Community College 
Act (Public Law 92–189; 25 U.S.C. 640a et seq.).
SEC. 10. 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 Col-
lege to receive Federal funding and resources under any 
program authorized under the Higher Education Act of 
1965, the Equity in Educational Land Grant Status Act 
(Title V, Part C, of P.L. 103–382; 7 U.S.C. 301 note), 
or any other applicable program for the benefit of institu-
tions of higher education, community colleges, or postsec-
ondary educational institutions. 
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