Officials announced Monday that this is the fourth year in a row President Bush's budget has eliminated funding for United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck.

Although Congress has restored funding for the college in each of the past three years, it would be a major blow to the school if the funding doesn't come through this year.

According to David Gipp, president of the college, the school's annual budget is a little more than $7 million, of which about $3.5 million comes from a federal grant through the Department of the Interior.

"It would certainly put the intertribal college in jeopardy," Gipp said.

Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., was disappointed at the news, but also optimistic that Congress will restore funding because of the college's important mission.

"We have been able to get funding restored because this college does an excellent job in providing students with career skills they need," Pomeroy said.

Pomeroy said it has turned into a game with the Office of Management and Budget because Congress has had to restore the funding year after year.

Officials had predicted beforehand that the college would not be funded in Bush's budget.

Gipp testified before a legislative committee on Monday morning asking state lawmakers for help even before he knew for sure the funding would be taken away.

The Senate Education Committee voted unanimously for a "do pass" recommendation on Senate Concurrent Resolution 4024, which sends a letter to Congress and the president urging them to restore the funding.

The resolution asks Congress for $4.5 million in funding, which is $1 million more than what the school received last year. Gipp said the additional money would be used to expand programs and pay for increased costs.

Gipp testified that the college helps students from all over the United States and provides an economic boost to Bismarck.

"The federal administration really has not come up with any sound reason to why we've been eliminated," Gipp said.

United Tribes Technical College has been in existence since 1969.

The college provides two-year associate degrees and one-year certificates.

Programs include a licensed practical nurse program, small business management, health information technology, automotive and building trades, office technology, art and art marketing.

Gipp said more than 600 students attend the college, and 300 children of the students and staff attend elementary school and day care facilities. Students from across the United States representing several tribes attend the school.

Although the announcement wasn't good news for the college, Gipp said he is optimistic that the funding will be restored. In addition to urging Congress to restore funding, Gipp said he also will be traveling to Washington, D.C., to ask the Office of Management and Budget to reverse the decision.

Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., who sits on an appropriations subcommittee that will take up the issues, said the Bush administration obviously doesn't value funding the college even though it has been shown to be an excellent college.

"Frankly, they know better," Dorgan said.

(Reach reporter Tom Rafferty at 223-8482 or tom.rafferty@bismarcktribune.com.)