2011-08: Full Funding for Contract Support Funds to Tribes

WHEREAS, the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) was established in 1970 for the purpose of advocating, planning, and promoting the unique and special educational needs of American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians; and

WHEREAS, NIEA as the largest national Indian organization of American Indian, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiian educators, administrators, parents and students in the United States, provides a forum to discuss and act upon issues affecting the education of Indian and Native people; and

WHEREAS, through its’ unique relationship with Indian nations and tribes, the federal government has established programs and resources to meet the educational needs of American Indians, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiians, residing on and off their reserved or non-reserved homelands; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Interior (DOI) appropriates funds for the operation of BIE funded schools; and

WHEREAS, H.R. 2584 provides $228.0 million for contract support costs which should provide full funding for indirect costs associated with self-determination contracts and self-governance compacts in FY 2012; and

WHEREAS, recent court cases found that the Bureau was legally obligated to pay the full amount of all contract support costs that it had contractually agreed with Indian Tribes to pay; and

WHEREAS, the Appropriations Committee, Chaired by Representative Mike Simpson of Idaho, believes that the Bureau should pay all contract support costs for which it has contractually agreed and directs the Bureau to include the full cost of the contract support obligations in its fiscal year 2013 budget submission.; now

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Indian Education Association does hereby support the appropriations language in HR 2584, introduced by Representative Mike Simpson from Idaho, which provides for full funding for contract support funds.