2011-07: Opposition to Setting New Priorities in Education Spending Act (H.R. 1891)

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 Setting New Priorities in Education Act (H.R.1891), in an attempt to balance the federal budget, would eliminate the Alaska Native Education Program and the Native Hawaiian Education Program on the grounds that these programs are wasteful and ineffective; and

WHEREAS, the implication that funds used to educate Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students is considered ‘wasteful spending’ is wrong because spending on education, and Native education in particular, is an investment in the future and a right that our children deserve; and

WHEREAS, data and research support the conclusion that Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian education programs are successful in improving student achievement, teacher performance, community engagement, cultural awareness, and a strong Native identity; and

WHEREAS, an attack on Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian programs sets a risky precedent that could lead to the same damaging cuts to American Indian education programs; now

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that NIEA does hereby oppose the Setting New Priorities in Education Spending Act (H.R. 1891), introduced by Representative Duncan Hunter from California; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NIEA opposes this bill because NIEA:

  1. Rejects the viewpoint that spending money on educating Native youth is “wasteful”;

  2. Supports the many Native programs that have produced proven achievement results; and

  3. Considers spending on education as an investment in our future, rather than a drain on our economy.

Steven Peters