2012-05: Increase Johnson-O’Malley Funding to $36 Million Dollars

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 Native, 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 Natives, and Native Hawaiians, residing on and off their reserved or non-reserved homelands; and

WHEREAS, the National Johnson-O’Malley Association is the collective voice of over 300,000 students and their parents/guardians, and

WHEREAS, the National Johnson O’Malley (JOM) Association declares that the academic, mental, social, spiritual, and physical well-being of our JOM students and their parents/guardians are our highest priority.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NIEA and the National Johnson-O’Malley Association supports the increase of JOM program funding at the level of $36 million dollars and requests that the US Congress and the US Senate mandate the $36 million dollars and that future appropriations be increased by a prescribed formula based on the JOM student count, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NIEA and the National Johnson-O’Malley Association join in partnership in requesting that Congress fund the JOM Supplemental Education Program at a level of $36 million dollars and that future funding levels be determined by a prescribed formula based on the JOM student count every two years.