Press Releases

Today, Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee Chairman Burgess Owens (R-UT) delivered the following statements, at a joint hearing with the Natural Resources Committee titled “Enhancing Educational Outcomes in Indian Country: Postsecondary Education at the Bureau of Indian Education”:

Chairman Walberg's statement as prepared for delivery:

"Let me first extend my thanks to Subcommittee Chairman Gosar for initiating this hearing and also thanks to Subcommittee Chairman Owens who has faithfully led our Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee in the 118th and now the 119th Congress. He has repeatedly talked about how education is the key to unlocking the American Dream, and of course I lend my hearty 'amen' to that.

"This is the second time our Subcommittees have come together to hear about the recurring operational challenges of the Bureau of Indian Education. Over and over, we have read reports and heard testimonies by GAO, the Inspector General, and others about BIE’s poor management of its K-12 and postsecondary schools and inability to exercise meaningful oversight of Haskell Indian Nations University. It is well documented.

"The problems at Haskell are apparent – the failure to maintain a safe and secure learning environment for students; misconduct by students and staff, including sexual harassment that has often gone unaddressed; bullying; nepotism; employee favoritism – the list goes on.

"Within the last few weeks, we learned of the Inspector General’s report about the sexual harassment of students on Haskell’s women’s basketball team, the failure of a supervisor to report the harassment, and potential violations of a Kansas state law involving athletic trainers.

"More broadly, and as I have observed from my role as Chairman of the Education and Workforce Committee, we continue to investigate campus antisemitism, advocate for changes in the student loan program through reconciliation, and deal with malign foreign influence by China at our colleges and universities. I am grateful that we are making strides on these fronts.

"At the same time, we must do more to ensure Native American students are provided a safe and secure learning environment at Haskell and that BIE, once and for all, rises to the occasion.

"I look forward to working with President Trump and his team to hear their solutions for BIE and Haskell, and Mr. Davis, I look forward to your testimony."

Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee Chairman Owens' statement as prepared for delivery:

"As Chairman of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee, it is my privilege to join you and others in hosting this important hearing – one where we will hear the latest about the status of postsecondary education provided by BIE for Native Americans.

"I look forward to hearing from our witness, Mr. Scott Davis – currently carrying out the duties of Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

"Almost one year ago in another joint hearing by these subcommittees, we heard about the dysfunction at BIE – mismanagement, fraud, nepotism, a failure to investigate complaints, a failure to address sexual harassment, and a longtime failure to exercise proper oversight of Haskell Indian Nations University.

"In addition to these failures, we will again discuss, as in the past, the inability of BIE to properly steward its buildings and campuses in educating Native American students.

"And it is not just stewardship of property. It is also the recurring instances of sexual harassment at Haskell Indian Nations University that are particularly troubling and the lack of a strong response by its leaders. And it doesn’t stop there.

"More broadly, BIE has failed to meet the mark. It has failed to create and instill a culture of accountability in the bureau and its schools.

"Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute is similar. Senior officials there have also demonstrated a lack of leadership. A 2018 sexual harassment investigation by the Inspector General revealed that neither BIE nor Southwestern have a policy prohibiting sexual relationships between faculty and students.

"All these incidents are problematic, and we need solutions. I am hopeful that the testimony of Mr. Davis will include carefully thought-out solutions that will get BIE, Haskell, and Southwestern on the path to long-term success. Our students deserve no less."

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