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- इसका हिस्सा Records of the Office of the Chief of Staff (Clinton Administration), Lynn Cutler's Files
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OCR Page 1 of 30The Honorable William Goodling, Chairman
House Education and the Workforce Committee
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
March 13, 2000
Re: Opposition to H. R. 1960 and to H. R. 2 with respect to Tribal Education Department
Appropriations Authorization
Dear Chairman Goodling:
We, the undersigned tribal leaders, tribal education directors, school board members, and Indian
educators and advocates, oppose H. R. 1960, the Educational Excellence for All Children Act of 1999,
and H. R. 2, the Student Results Act of 1999, with respect to their provisions eliminating the
appropriations authorization for Tribal Education Departments through the U.S. Department of Education.
H. R. 1960 and H. R. 2 would eliminate the appropriations authorization, which we oppose.
This appropriations authorization was enacted as part of the Improving America's Schools Act of
1994, Pub. L. No. 103-382, currently codified at 20 U.S.C. Sec. 7835. The authorization is in recognition
of the vital role that Tribal Education Departments play in improving education for hundreds of thousands
of American Indian and Alaska Native students nationwide.
According to available data, many of these tribal students suffer disproportionately from high
drop out rates, and low educational attainment and achievement levels. This educational deficit takes a
huge social and economic toll on our tribal communities and the country at large. We need to prepare our
students for higher education, for jobs, and to be productive and healthy adults.
Indian education reports and research recommend that tribes establish education departments and
that the federal government fund them. Despite the 1994 authorization, no appropriations for Tribal
Education Departments have ever been made, which is the proffered justification for why H. R. 1960, and,
we presume, H. R. 2, now seek to eliminate the authorization.
This is a classic instance of a "Catch 22" which we urge your Committee to reject. As we work in
partnership with the federal government, the states, and the public school districts to improve the
educational conditions for our tribal children, the Tribal Education Department appropriations
authorization should be retained as suggested by S. 2, which we support. Thank you for your attention
to this important matter.
Name Cheek Title Exec / Position DIR
Tribe / School / State
NIEK
Ber we. F, Pirecting Program Play, Puetho Rytgel.
Dure J. Cam Baral Member NIEA Standing Rak Six, Sitting Bull Callage NA.
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