Congress Passes FUTURE Act Supporting Tribal Colleges and Universities

Published on Dec 11, 2019

WASHINGTON, D.C. | Yesterday, in a 316-92 vote, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a Senate-amended version of the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act. On the same day, the Senate passed the FUTURE Act by a voice vote.

“Tribal Colleges and Universities fulfill a fundamental role in supporting American Indian and Alaska Native higher education and maintaining, preserving, and revitalizing irreplaceable American Indian and Alaska Native languages and cultural traditions,” said Kevin J. Allis, Chief Executive Officer of the National Congress of American Indians. “We are thrilled to see the House pass the FUTURE Act, which provides Tribal Colleges and Universities funding for student support services, faculty development, academic curriculum, classroom construction and modernization, courses to strengthen our tribal nations, and many other important educational activities.”
 
The FUTURE Act permanently extends mandatory funding at current levels for the following types of higher education institutions: Tribal Colleges and Universities at $30 million, Alaska Native-Serving Institutions and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions at $15 million, and Native American-Serving Non-tribal Institutions at $5 million. In addition, the FUTURE Act streamlines the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) verification process.

The FUTURE Act (H.R. 5363) now heads to the President for his signature.

To view NCAI’s resolution supporting this legislation, please click here.
 
To view NCAI’s letter of support for this legislation, please click here.

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About the National Congress of American Indians:
Founded in 1944, the National Congress of American Indians is the oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization in the country. NCAI advocates on behalf of tribal governments and communities, promoting strong tribal-federal government-to-government policies, and promoting a better understanding among the general public regarding American Indian and Alaska Native governments, people and rights. For more information, visit www.ncai.org.
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