Haskell Indian Nations University Improvement Act
House Bill Would Give Haskell Indian Nations University Independent Board, Federal Charter
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- Makes Haskell Indian Nations University a federally chartered university, no longer run day-to-day by the Bureau of Indian Education.
- Keeps the school tuition-free for Indian students and lets it accept private donations as a charitable, nonprofit organization.
- Creates a 15-member Board of Trustees (plus a student leader as nonvoting) that Trump would appoint with Senate approval, with Tribal input.
- Changes how the school hires and manages staff, including required background checks and new workplace rules outside the usual federal civil service system.
- Sets up an endowment trust fund and allows yearly federal funding, with at least $27 million a year authorized plus endowment support tied to fundraising.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
How this policy affects specific groups of people
Milestones
Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
4 articles
Kansas federal lawmakers want Haskell Indian Nations University to control itself
Kansas Republicans introduced the Haskell Indian Nations University Improvement Act to transfer governance from the Bureau of Indian Education to an independent Board of Regents. The bill reclassifies the school as a federally chartered corporation to address years of federal mismanagement.
In the Crosshairs: Advocating to Save Haskell Indian Nations University and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
Following mass layoffs of federal employees by the Trump administration's DOGE initiative, advocates are pushing for the Haskell Improvement Act. The bill would grant the university a federal charter, allowing it to operate as a nonprofit and accept private donations while remaining tuition-free.
Impact of drastic federal funding cuts on tribal colleges, universities would be 'extremely dire'
As the Trump administration proposes a 90% cut to tribal college funding, the Haskell Indian Nations University Improvement Act is highlighted as a potential path toward autonomy. The bill seeks to protect the institution from federal volatility by establishing an independent governance structure.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Haskell Indian Nations University Improvement Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(3)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.