A Resolution Opposing Inclusion of the Johnson-O’Malley Program (JOM) in the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Demonstration Act Amendments of 1998.

WHEREAS, the National JOM Association is the collective voice of 275,000 JOM students and their parents/ guardians nationwide, and

WHEREAS, the National JOM Association declares that the academic, mental, social, spiritual and physical well-being of its JOM students and parents/ guardians are its highest priority, and

WHEREAS, through federal treaty, established policy and legal precedent, the United States government has acknowledged its trust responsibility to promote the academic education of Indian people, and

WHEREAS, the Johnson-O’Malley Program Act (25 U.S.C. §452-457) provides grant funds for supplementary educational services for Indian children, three (3) years of age through twelfth (12th) grade, enrolled in public or tribal schools, and

WHEREAS, the Johnson-O’Malley Program, as a supplemental Indian child education program, is outside the scope of federal job placement and training programs and is therefore not an appropriate candidate for consolidation within a comprehensive employment training program as anticipated by amending P.L. 102-477 with H.R. 4087.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE NATIONAL INDIAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION does hereby oppose inclusion of the Johnson-O’Malley Program in the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Demonstration Act Amendments of 1998.

SUBMITTED BY: Darrell Watchman (Navajo)

CERTIFICATION

I do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly considered and passed by the NIEA membership assembled at its annual convention in Nashville, Tennessee, at which a quorum was present during the meeting held October 11-14, 1998.