52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2016

SUPPORTING THE PASSAGE OF THE DINE COLLEGE ACT OF 2015 INTO FEDERAL LAW.

WHEREAS, the state of New Mexico and the Navajo Nation maintain a government-to-government relationship, and the Navajo people residing in the state are citizens of both New Mexico and the Navajo Nation; and

WHEREAS, in 1968, the Navajo Nation established Navajo community college, which later became Diné college, to provide access to higher education to the Navajo people; and

WHEREAS, Diné college's New Mexico flagship campus is located in Shiprock, and there is a community campus center in Crownpoint; and

WHEREAS, Diné college has dual credit agreements with school districts and schools in New Mexico, including the Central consolidated school district, Gallup-McKinley county school district, Magdalena municipal school district, Navajo preparatory school, Shiprock alternative school, inc., Wingate high school and the Alamo Navajo community school; and

WHEREAS, the state of New Mexico provides support to Diné college through its higher education department by way of higher education capital outlay projects, the tribal college dual credit funding program and high school equivalency credential program grants; and

WHEREAS, the United States congress passed the Navajo Community College Act of 1971, the Navajo Community College Assistance Act of 1978 and the Navajo Nation Higher Education Act of 2008, which collectively provide for maintenance, operation and construction funding for Diné college; and

WHEREAS, Representative Ann Kirkpatrick from Arizona introduced the Dine College Act of 2015 "to fulfill the United States Government's trust responsibility to serve the higher education needs of the Navajo people and to clarify, unify, and modernize prior Diné College legislation", and Diné college has asked Senator Jeff Flake from Arizona to introduce a senate companion bill;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the state of New Mexico stand in support of the passage of the Dine College Act of 2015 and urge the New Mexico congressional delegation to work to ensure its passage into federal law; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of higher education, the governor, the New Mexico congressional delegation, the speaker of the United States house of representatives, the president of the United States senate and the president of the United States.