Jeff Bingaman: “on May 24, 1999, the Bureau of Indian Affairs produced an agreement regarding the funding formula for the two BIA…”

“on May 24, 1999, the Bureau of Indian Affairs produced an agreement regarding the funding formula for the two BIA postsecondary schools Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, known as SIPI, and Haskell Indian Nations University. SIPI and Haskell agreed that while base funding for each institution would not be impacted, all new funds would be proportionately distributed to each school based on unmet student need. In accordance with the agreement, BIA developed a formula for unmet need. In the conference report to Public Law 106-113, the Interior Appropriations bill, Congress then directed BIA to allocate funds for SIPI and Haskell for fiscal year 2000 as determined by such formula. Since then, however, BIA has not used the formula agreed upon by all parties, but should have, as Congress directed.”