Tribal Health Promotion and Tribal Colleges and Universities Advancement Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-1779
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2007-07-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Community health services
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Epidemiology
Federal aid to Indians
Federal aid to education
Health
Health education
Higher education
Housing and Community Development
Indian education
Indian medical care
Labor and Employment
Medical education
Medical research
Minorities
Minority employment
Preventive medicine
Rural health
Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2007-07-12
text: 
Tribal Health Promotion and Tribal Colleges and Universities Advancement Act of 2007 - Through Higher Education: Promoting the Advancement of Tribal Health Act or THE PATH Act - Designates the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health within the Office of Public Health and Science of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to serve as the coordinating officer with respect to programs of tribal colleges and universities relating to health promotion and disease prevention. 

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to implement a memorandum of agreement with the American Indian Higher Education Consortium to establish programs to: (1) ensure that Native American communities, through tribal colleges and universities, participate equitably in employment programs, services, and resources of HHS; and (2) provide necessary technical assistance.

Establishes programs for: (1) community-based health and wellness fairs; (2) health promotion and disease prevention targeted programs and construction and renovation of community wellness centers; and (3) development and expansion of public health professional degree programs.

Establishes: (1) the Tribal College and University Rural Health Equity Endowment Fund; (2) offices of sponsored programs at tribal colleges and universities; and (3) health promotion and disease prevention research programs. 

Advancing Tribes Through Tribal Colleges and Universities Act or the AT TCUs Act - Establishes within the Administration on Native Americans, the Office on Tribal College and University Programs to: (1) administer the programs authorized by this Act; and (2) coordinate intra- and inter-departmental activities relating to tribal colleges and universities. 

Establishes the: (1) Native Prosperity and Native American Language Vitalization and Training Programs; and (2) tribal colleges and universities native communities research program.

action_date: 2008-10-01
text: 
Tribal Health Promotion and Tribal Colleges and Universities Advancement Act of 2008 - 
Title I: Through Higher Education: Promoting the Advancement of Tribal Health
 - Through Higher Education: Promoting the Advancement of Tribal Health Act or THE PATH Act - (Sec. 104) Designates the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health within the Office of Public Health and Science of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as the coordinating officer for programs of tribal colleges and universities (tribal colleges) relating to health care workforce development and health promotion and disease prevention.

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and implement a formal memorandum of agreement with the American Indian Higher Education Consortium to establish programs to ensure equitable Native American participation in HHS programs, services, and resources and to provide technical assistance to tribal colleges. 

(Sec. 105) Directs the Secretary to provide for grants, or enter into cooperative agreements with, tribal colleges to: (1) carry out annual, community-based, and culturally relevant health and wellness fairs at tribal colleges; and (2) assist tribal colleges to carry out health promotion and disease prevention programs and reduce health disparities in tribal communities. Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2017.

(Sec. 107) Directs the Secretary to provide grants to tribal colleges to develop and strengthen public health professional degree programs. Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2017.

(Sec. 108) Establishes in the Treasury the Tribal College and University Rural Health Equity Endowment Fund to establish and maintain an endowment for a health professions workforce development program at tribal colleges. 

(Sec. 109) Directs the Secretary to establish a grant program to establish and maintain at tribal college offices sponsored programs for research, grant management, and coordination of tribal college activities.

Requires tribal colleges to report to the Director in FY2010-FY2018 on sponsored programs. 

Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2017.

(Sec. 110) Directs the Secretary to provide for competitive grants to, or enter into cooperative agreements with, tribal colleges to conduct research on health promotion and disease prevention at the tribal colleges. Limits the term of such grants or cooperative agreements to three years and establishes the minimum amount of grants at $150,000 for a fiscal year. Provides a one-year term and a $10,000 minimum amount for undergraduate research experience program grants. Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2017. 

Title II: Advancing Tribes through Tribal Colleges and Universities
 - Advancing Tribes Through Tribal Colleges and Universities Act or the AT TCUs Act - (Sec. 203) Amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to require the Secretary of Labor to establish the TCU Native Prosperity Program to provide for grants to, or offer to enter into cooperative agreements with, eligible tribal colleges to promote economic development, entrepreneurship, community development, and sound fiscal leadership in Indian communities. Limits grant periods to five years, but allows a three-year extension on a non-competitive basis for tribal colleges that perform successfully. 

Allows a tribal college to use assistance received under this Act to carry out specified activities, including: (1) microenterprise development; (2) business development and administration courses and degree programs; (3) entrepreneurship programs; (4) municipality planning and administration courses, degree programs, and in-service training; and (5) executive leadership training in economic development, planning, and emerging management issues. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into a cooperative agreement with the American Indian Higher Education Consortium to provide tribal colleges with technical assistance.

Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2012.

(Sec. 204) Defines &quot;tribal college or university&quot; to mean: (1) an institution that is eligible to receive funds under the Tribally Controlled College or University Assistance Act of 1978; (2) Dine College; and (3) any of the 1994 Institutions listed in the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-10-01
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1110.
action_date: 2008-10-01
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Dorgan with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-519.
action_date: 2008-10-01
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Dorgan with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-519.
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2007-07-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2007-07-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9143)
action_date: 2007-07-12
text: Introduced in Senate