Senator McCain (R-AZ) to introduce amendment to restore $56 million for Indian Education programs. Please contact your Senator immediately to gain her/his support for this amendment (to be introduced as early as today).

Senator John McCain (R-AZ) has informed the NIEA that he plans to introduce an amendment on the Senate floor to the Interior Appropriations bill, H.R. 3662, which would restore $56 million to Indian Education programs in the Departments of Interior and Education. NIEA has worked with Senator McCain's office during the past month in urging his support for increased Indian education funding. NIEA urges all interested program directors, school administrators, tribal education committees and others to contact their Senators as soon as possible as well as members of the Senate Appropriations Committee to urge their support of this much needed amendment.

Senator McCain's amendment would provide $25 million to School Operations and $14 million for new school construction in the BIA and $17 million for the Office of Indian Education (OIE) in the Department of Education. The $17 million would allow OIE to resume funding of its discretionary programs - $5 million to adult education and literacy programs and $12 million to special programs for Indian children. These programs were eliminated in the deficit reduction efforts of the last two years. The adult education funds, if restored, would allow OIE to funding at least 30 Indian adult education programs nationwide. Many of these programs are operated at tribally chartered community colleges. The $56 million amendment would bring Interior education funding levels to almost near the Administration's request for these programs.

Once again, NIEA urges you to contact your Senators as well as other key Senate appropriators as soon as possible urging their support of the McCain Indian Education amendment. Please call the NIEA office at 703-838-2870 if you have any questions. Ask for Lorraine Edmo, Executive Director or Jack C. Jackson, Jr., Legislative Analyst.