U.S. SENATE – Senator Steve Daines, a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, today announced that Montana’s tribal colleges have been awarded more than $10.2 million in grants through the U.S. Department of Education.
Grants will be awarded to tribal colleges in Box Elder, Browning, Crow Agency, Harlem, Lame Deer, Pablo and Poplar. The formula-based grants will provide Montana’s tribal colleges with additional resources to expand academic opportunity for Montana tribal members.
“Montana’s tribal colleges provide valuable educational and job training services to Native American students across our state,” Daines stated. “These grants will help our tribal colleges continue serving Montana’s tribal members and preparing students for success in their future careers.”
Grants awarded today include:
- Aaniiih Nakoda College (Harlem): $1,040,630
- Blackfeet Community College (Browning): $1,681,375
- Chief Dull Knife College (Lame Deer): $1,146,063
- Fort Peck Community College (Poplar): $1,262,340
- Little Big Horn College (Crow Agency): $1,276,352
- Salish Kootenai College (Pablo): $2,390,770
- Stone Child College (Box Elder): $1,414,786
Daines has long been a strong supporter of Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs). Daines, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, recently voted in support of the Senate Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for FY2016, which included full funding for TCUs. Daines also co-sponsored and worked to pass Senate legislation designating the week beginning February 8, 2015 as “National Tribal College and Universities Week.”
In the House, Daines supported an amendment that improved education policies that support programs for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students under Title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Additionally Daines wrote a letter urging prioritization of funding for TCUs to House and Senate leaders during the 113th Congress.
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