,i #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #dhjg ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,january #af1 #bjah,mr4 ,o',halleran 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,ben ,ray ,lujn of ,new ,mexico1 and ,ms4 ,michelle ,lujan ,grisham of ,new ,mexico7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and the ,workforce ,a ,,bill ,to fulfill the ,united ,states ,government's trust responsibility to serve the higher education needs of the ,navajo people and to clarify1 unify1 and modernize prior ,din ,college legislation4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,din ,college ,act of #bjah4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds as follows3 7#a7 ,the ,treaty of #ahfh between the ,united ,states of ,america and the ,navajo ,tribe of ,indians provides for the education of the citizens of the ,navajo ,nation4 7#b7 ,the ,navajo ,nation created and chartered the ,navajo ,community ,college by ,resolution ,,cn-#ie-fh as a wholly owned educational entity of the ,navajo ,nation4 7#c7 ,in #aiga1 ,congress enacted the ,navajo ,community ,college ,act 7,public ,law #ib-ahi2 #be ,u4,s4,c4 #fdj;a et seq474 7#d7 ,the ,navajo ,nation officially changed the name of the ,navajo ,community ,college to ,din ,college by ,resolution ,,cap-#ce-ig4 7#e7 ,the purpose of ,din ,college is to provide educational opportunities to the ,navajo people and others in areas important to the economic and social development of the ,navajo ,nation4 7#f7 ,the educational philosophy of ,din ,college is to apply principles of ,sa'ah ,naagh ,bik'eh ,hzhn 7,din ,philosophy7 to advance quality student learning through training of the mind and heart4 7#g7 ,the ,united ,states has a trust and treaty responsibility to the ,navajo ,nation to provide for the educational opportunities for ,navajo people4 7#h7 ,significant portions of the ,din ,college's infrastructure are dilapidated and pose a serious health and safety risk to students1 employees1 and the public4 7#i7 ,this ,act is consistent with ,executive ,order #aceib 7#gf ,fed4 ,reg4 #gffjc1 relating to improving ,american ,indian and ,alaska ,native educational opportunities and strengthening tribal colleges and universities7 and fulfills the ,united ,states ,government's trust responsibility to serve the educational needs of the ,navajo people4 #c4 ,purpose ,the purpose of this ,act is to ensure that the ,navajo ,nation and ,navajo people-- 7#a7 exercise their right to self-determination1 particularly in matters relating to their internal and local affairs2 7#b7 maintain and strengthen their distinct institutions of higher education through the teaching of the ,navajo language1 culture1 traditions1 and history2 and 7#c7 improve their economic and social conditions through higher education and postsecondary vocational training4 #d4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,appropriate committees of ,congress ,the term appropriate committees of ,congress means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,indian ,affairs and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate2 and 7,b7 the ,committee on ,natural ,resources1 the ,committee on ,education and the ,workforce1 and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#b7 ,college ,the term ,college means ,din ,college4 7#c7 ,operation and maintenance ,the term operation and maintenance means all costs and expenses associated with the customary daily operation of the ,din ,college and necessary maintenance costs4 7#d7 ,infrastructure ,the term infrastructure means ,din ,college buildings1 water and sewer facilities1 roads1 foundation1 information technology1 and telecommunications1 including classrooms and external matters such as walkways4 7#e7 ,renovations and repairs ,the term renovations and repairs means modernization and improvements to the infrastructure4 7#f7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior4 #e4 ,authorization of ,din ,college ,congress authorizes the ,din ,college to receive all ,federal funding and resources under this ,act and other laws for its operation1 improvement1 and growth1 including-- 7#a7 to provide programs of higher education for citizens of the ,navajo ,nation and others2 7#b7 to provide vocational and technical education for citizens of the ,navajo ,nation and others2 7#c7 to preserve and protect the ,navajo language1 philosophy1 and culture for citizens of the ,navajo ,nation and others2 7#d7 to provide ,navajo communities and people with employment and training opportunities2 7#e7 to provide economic development and community outreach for ,navajo communities and people2 and 7#f7 to provide a safe learning1 working1 and living environment for students1 employees1 and the public4 #f4 ,facilities and capital projects ,from amounts made available under section #h7;c71 the ,din ,college may undertake any renovations and repairs to the infrastructure of the ,college that are identified in the survey1 study1 and report carried out under section #i4 #g4 ,status of funds ,funds provided under this ,act to the ,din ,college may be treated as non-,federal1 private funds of the ,college for purposes of any provision of ,federal law which requires that non-,federal or private funds of the ,college be used in a project for a specific purpose4 #h4 ,authorization of appropriations 7a7 ,in ,general ,there are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the ,din ,college1 for each fiscal year1 such sums as may be necessary to pay for the operation and maintenance of the ,college4 7b7 ,budget ,placement ,the ,secretary shall fund the operation and maintenance of the ,din ,college separately from tribal colleges and universities recognized and funded by the ,tribally ,controlled ,college or ,university ,assistance ,act of #aigh 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ahja et seq474 7c7 ,facilities and ,capital ,projects ,in addition to amounts appropriated under subsection 7a71 there are authorized to be appropriated #g1ejj1jjj1 for each fiscal year1 to carry out section #f4 #i4 ,survey1 study1 and report 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall conduct a detailed survey and study of all capital projects and facility needs of the ,din ,college1 and shall report the results of such survey and study to the appropriate committees of ,congress not later than ,october #ca1 #bjai4 ,such report shall include recommendations by the ,secretary and any recommendations or views submitted by the ,college and the ,navajo ,nation regarding the capital projects and facility needs of the ,college4 7b7 ,inventory ,not later than ,january #ca1 #bjai1 an inventory prepared by ,din ,college identifying repairs1 alterations1 and renovations to facilities required to meet health and safety standards and other factors shall be submitted to the ,secretary4 ,the ,secretary shall use the inventory as baseline data to inform the survey1 study1 and report required under subsection 7a74 7c7 ,administrative expenses ,funds to carry out this section may be drawn from general administrative appropriations to the ,secretary4 #aj4 ,supersession of ,navajo ,community ,college ,act ,this ,act supersedes-- 7#a7 the ,navajo ,community ,college ,act 7,public ,law #ib-ahi2 #be ,u4,s4,c4 #fdj;a et seq472 7#b7 the ,navajo ,community ,college ,assistance ,act of #aigh 7,public ,law #ie-dga1 #ib ,stat4 #acbe1 #acbi72 and 7#c7 the ,navajo ,nation ,higher ,education ,act of #bjaj 7,public ,law #aaj-cae1 #abb ,stat4 #cdfh74 #aa4 ,continuing eligibility for other ,federal funds ,except as explicitly provided for in other ,federal law1 nothing in this ,act shall preclude the eligibility of the ,din ,college to receive ,federal funding and resources under any program authorized under the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja et seq471 the ,equity in ,educational ,land ,grant ,status ,act 7,title ,v1 ,part ,c1 of ,public ,law #ajc-chb2 #g ,u4,s4,c4 #cja note71 or any other applicable program for the benefit of institutions of higher education1 community colleges1 or postsecondary educational institutions4