Investing in the next generation

Dear Friend,

Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) and Tribally-controlled schools have served as important centers of support for Tribal communities who have faced severe public health and economic hardships during the Covid-19 pandemic. Educators have worked tirelessly to keep students engaged in their education and help their families keep food on the table and roofs over their heads.

That's why I fought to secure $1.1 billion for Native education programs in the American Rescue Plan that President Biden signed into law last week. That includes $850 million for the BIE, $190 million for Tribal education agencies and Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native education programs, and $20 million in emergency grants to address the impacts of the pandemic on the preservation of Native languages.

I am so grateful for all the ways that educators across New Mexico have gone above and beyond for their students and families. I addressed members of the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) yesterday about the specific challenges that BIE and Tribally-controlled schools continue to face. I hope you can take a moment to watch and share the video of my remarks.

VIDEO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich discusses the American Rescue Plan with the National Indian Education Association, March 17, 2021.

Overall, the American Rescue Plan represents the single greatest dedicated federal investment we have ever made in Indian Country. There is more than $31 billion to provide immediate relief for Tribal governments, to invest in broadband and clean water infrastructure, and to support the public health and vaccine distribution campaign through the Indian Health Service. These investments will help Tribes put an end to the pandemic and rebuild thriving communities.

I am focused through my new role on the Senate Appropriations Committee on ensuring we are fully funding the Bureau of Indian Education and other important Tribal programs. Last year, I successfully fought to include $475 million of funding to specifically address BIE's long-running deferred maintenance backlog as part of the larger Great American Outdoors Act. That funding will allow us to finally start making real progress in building better learning environments for Native students.

As we rebuild our country, we have an opportunity to take big, bold action to invest in the next generation-and finally meet our federal government's trust responsibility to support Tribal education. That starts the day a child is born through early childhood development and then a K-12 and higher education in safe and healthy learning environments that put them on the path to success.