Michael Bennet

I particularly liked your reference to Washington State's model of public/private partnerships. That's exactly the kind of collaboration we need so that we can provide more opportunities for kids to pursue important STEM fields in this…

A Federal change to existing FERPA guidelines to explicitly allow the sharing of student data backward down the education pipeline would greatly assist in the tracking of student preparedness and progress.

It's my honor to introduce Dr. David Longanecker to the committee.

The Native American Tuition Waiver is definitely a controversial issue, and I feel it necessary to express my sentiments.

Supporting the Native tuition waivers through Federal funding in S. 3504 helps to fulfill this sacred duty.

Thank you for your leadership on this issue and also on issues that have been of concern to Native Americans over many years.

Just more of the same. I was thinking, President Thomas, as you were speaking about the particular mission of our institutions along with the 30 in the country that were public liberal arts colleges.

I think the Federal Government has some responsibility under what has been defined as the trust responsibility.

I think the legacy and the impact of this American Indian tuition waiver is intended not just to be limited by State boundaries.

How that might improve the quality of your program or help you improve the quality of your program for Native American students, in particular?

The State's obligation would continue.

What are your challenges? What are your successes? And how can we bring more resources...

I think it's important for the students that are there to hear that.

I think it's very appropriate for the Federal Government to see what's happened at Fort Lewis.

They are serving this country in important ways and contributing to the democratic fabric of this society.

I'm sorry. Is that for economic reasons?

In the context of all of that, maybe you could elaborate a little bit on the particular responsibilities from your point of view to this Nation that come with being a Non-Tribal Native American-Serving College.

Without the Native American Tuition Waiver, many possibilities and dreams will be ceased.

Senate bill 3504 distributes the cost of this endeavor more reasonably between the Federal Government and the States.

This Administration has made a strong commitment to upholding the United States' trust responsibility toward tribes and is committed to doing our part.

Thank you for being here today, Senator Campbell.

Thank you all for being here today.

We need to all be working together to be thinking innovatively to address these times of austerity--I'm committed to do that.

I am here to offer our full support for The Native American Education Act of 2012 and to commend the great work of Fort Lewis College's administration, staff, and students by making this historical agreement an educational priority.

I look forward to working with them on both the bill we discuss today and the broader goal of advancing educational opportunities for Native American students.