H.R. 6343: Parity for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Students in Agriculture Act

This bill, known as the Parity for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Students in Agriculture Act, aims to amend an existing law to enhance educational funding for institutions serving Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students. The main points of the bill are as follows:

Education Grants for Institutions

The bill proposes changes to the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977. Specifically, it focuses on the education grant programs for:

• Alaska Native serving institutions
• Native Hawaiian serving institutions

Grant Periods

The bill establishes that grants made under this section will not exceed a period of three years. This means that institutions can receive funding for a maximum of three years at a time, encouraging them to plan and apply for future grants after that period.

Increased Funding Levels

The legislation proposes an increase in the funding allocated for these grants. The previous provision allowed for:

• $10 million for each fiscal year from 2001 through 2023.

Under the new bill, it is proposed to change this to:

• $10 million for fiscal year 2026
• $15 million for each fiscal year from 2027 through 2031.

This adjustment aims to provide more substantial financial support to the institutions over the specified years.

Legislative Process

The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives and is currently referred to the Committee on Agriculture for further review and discussion.

Overall Purpose

The main objective of this bill is to enhance educational opportunities and resources for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students specializing in agriculture by providing increased funding and a structured grant program.

Relevant Companies

None found