{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-fischer-and-colleagues-introduce-bill-giving-tribal-colleges-and-universities-a-stronger-voice-in-education-funding", "Rounds, Fischer and Colleagues Introduce Bill Giving Tribal Colleges and Universities a Stronger Voice in Education Funding", "2022-12-06", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) introduced the National Advisory Council on Indian Education Improvement Act. This legislation would give Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) greater input over federal funding discussions that impact them.\n\n\u201cLeaders of Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) know the needs of their organizations, faculty and students better than anyone else,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cThis commonsense bill will enable TCUs to have a voice for how to meet those needs, and it will improve the effectiveness of federal resources. The inclusion of TCU partners will help support the work of the National Advisory Council on Indian Education. I will continue working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass this bipartisan legislation, which will have a positive impact on the growth of TCUs for years to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cTribal Colleges and Universities deserve a seat at the table,\u201d said Fischer. \u201cThis legislation will ensure the Depts. of Education and Interior hear directly from TCU leaders about their specific needs and how federal resources can address them. I appreciate the strong, bipartisan support our bill has already received, and I\u2019ll continue to work with my Senate colleagues to get this done.\u201d\n\nUnder the Department of Education, the National Advisory Council on Indian Education (NACIE) advises the Secretaries of Education and Interior on programs serving tribes and their members. NACIE releases an annual report; however, the Department of Education does not have a process for considering NACIE\u2019s report when developing its budget request. Furthermore, Department of Education tribal consultation sessions often do not allow the opportunity for TCU leaders to provide direct input.\n\nThe National Advisory Council on Indian Education Improvement Act would address these challenges by requiring at least one of NACIE\u2019s members to be the president of a TCU. Additionally, it would require the Secretaries of Education and Interior to consider NACIE\u2019s annual report when preparing their budgets each year.\n\nRounds and Fischer were joined by Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.).\n\nClick HERE for full bill text.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"]], "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.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-fischer-and-colleagues-introduce-bill-giving-tribal-colleges-and-universities-a-stronger-voice-in-education-funding"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.3539360370486975, "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"}