2022 - #E03: Supporting Forward Funding of the Johnson O’Malley Program and the Higher Education Grant Program and Calling Upon Congress to Enact Authorizing Legislation to Achieve Forward Funding

TITLE: Supporting Forward Funding of the Johnson O’Malley Program and the Higher Education Grant Program and Calling Upon Congress to Enact Authorizing and Appropriations Legislation to Achieve Forward Funding 

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 Native 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 Native 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 Bureau of Indian Education operates the Johnson O’Malley program as authorized by the Johnson-O'Malley Act of 1934 and provides supplemental educational programs to American Indian and Alaska Native students which includes culture, language, academics and dropout prevention; and 

WHEREAS, the Bureau of Indian Education operates the Higher Education Program as authorized by the Act of November 2, 1921, commonly referred to as “The Snyder Act” (25 U.S.C. 13) and provides scholarship assistance directly to Indian students or through P.L. 93-638 contracts; and 

WHEREAS, across Indian Country, numerous Indian Tribes administer their own Johnson O’Malley programs and Scholarship program through P.L. 93-638 contracts; and 

WHEREAS, The Federal government routinely operates under continuing resolutions. As such, funding for the BIA Higher Education Program is also; and routinely delayed; consequently, JOM educational services; and 

WHEREAS, there is precedent for forward funding of Federal Indian education programs, including Bureau of Indian Education funded schools (including P.L. 93-638 and P.L. 100-297 schools (25 U.S.C. §2010), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, (25 U.S.C. 1810) are all forward funded. 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the National Indian Education Association supports Forward Funding of the Johnson O’Malley Program and Higher Education Grant Program. 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the National Indian Education Association calls upon Congress to enact authorizing and appropriation legislation to achieve Forward Funding. 

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that this resolution shall be the policy of NIEA until it is withdrawn or modified by subsequent resolution.