{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=70085f28-d551-46e5-a1c2-689f93ff3ce0", "Heitkamp Introduces Amendment to Fund Needed Construction at Tribal Colleges", "2013-08-02", "2013", "2013-08", "Democrat", "House", "ND", "Heidi Heitkamp", "H001069", "www.heitkamp.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp introduced legislation to make more funds available for construction at Tribal Colleges. The funding would help North Dakota\u2019s tribal colleges build new classrooms, offices, libraries, and other educational facilities which many of the colleges are currently unable to afford.\r\n\u00a0Senator Heitkamp offered an amendment to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill to provide $5 million for much-needed improvements.\r\n\u00a0\u201cWhile our tribal colleges receive very little funding, there are enormous construction needs to update and improve the campuses,\u201d said Heitkamp, a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. \u201cRight now, many of North Dakota\u2019s Tribal Colleges have huge needs for new classrooms and libraries that would improve students\u2019 education, but unfortunately many of the colleges don\u2019t have the funding to make it happen. My proposal would change that and give these schools a chance to upgrade their facilities, as they continue to work to offer students more educational opportunities. This amendment certainly isn\u2019t a cure-all for Tribal Colleges, but it is a step in the right direction and I will continue to fight for it.\u201d\u00a0\r\n\u00a0Heitkamp\u2019s amendment would provide $5 million to the Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP), which offers competitive grants to tribal schools. Funding is used for the construction, renovation, and maintenance of facilities, including child care centers and housing units. Over the years, North Dakota tribal colleges have received crucial grants under TCUP, including funding for class improvements, libraries, water systems, and wellness centers.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0Unfortunately, the larger appropriations bill was blocked this week, but Heitkamp will continue her push to support funding for Tribal colleges.\r\n\u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=70085f28-d551-46e5-a1c2-689f93ff3ce0"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8859648369252682, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}