Today I helped chair a Senate hearing to examine student safety at schools run by the Bureau of Indian Education, which has come under fire after massive health and safety deficiencies were revealed through federal reports and separate media investigations.
As a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, I requested this hearing as part of my proposal to develop a "Marshall Plan" to eliminate the backlog in construction and maintenance at BIE schools and other Indian Country facilities. Currently, many schools within the BIA system - including dozens in New Mexico - have serious structural deficiencies, are not handicapped accessible and are in violation of building and fire codes.
This is unacceptable. The federal government is not living up to the promises it made to our nation's First Americans. The teachers and administrators are doing the best they can in these dangerous environments and it is time we fixed this problem.
You can watch Larry Barker's investigative reports that helped lead to this hearing
here
.
Below are clips from today's hearing.
Calling for a Renewed Commitment to Indian Schools
Questioning Larry Echo Hawk about Indian School Safety
Laguna Pueblo Schools Superintendent Testifies on Indian School Safety
Questioning Officials about Indian School Safety
