Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., also a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, plans to unveil a legislative proposal today that will strengthen health care initiatives at the 31 tribal colleges across the country.

"I will be introducing a long-sought, important bill to create a program for tribal colleges to promote health-related education and train American Indians to join the health-related work force," said Tester in a pre-released speech that he planned to give during Saturday graduation ceremonies at the Salish Kootenai College on the Flathead Reservation.

His proposal is the result of a tribal college summit held at the Blackfeet Community College on the Blackfeet Reservation on April 5. Leaders from all Montana nations and tribal colleges attended to brainstorm about how to improve tribal college education in Montana and tribal colleges around the nation.

"Folks came with a lot of ideas and suggestions and we took a lot of notes," said Tester. "Since that time, I've been working with my staff to come up with a Tribal College Action Plan and I'd like to give you the first look at it today."

Tester is calling his legislation THE PATH, which will include grant funds for nursing programs, community wellness and health clinics and education and outreach programs on key health issues plaguing Indian Country like diabetes, youth at risk and substance abuse.

"We serve our tribal communities; that funding will go a long way to encourage our students to enter all areas of health from nursing to dentistry and being medical doctors and surgeons," said Ferlin Clark, president of Dineh College, on Friday. "The need is so great, this legislation will help us get more traction in addressing these many areas related in health, that's mental health, community health and spiritual health. We need to use not only Western science but traditional approaches. That would help create a balance."

Tester said healthier communities and good-paying jobs would lead to improved overall conditions in Indian Country. "By training more Indian students to enter the health care field, we will provide Indian Country with more educated and self-sufficient members and improve the quality of and access to health care in Indian Country," he said.

The Montana senator's legislative proposal will be the first significant tribal college legislation introduced since 1994 when Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., championed land grant status for tribal colleges, said Joe McDonald, president of the Salish Kootenai College, on Friday. The land grant legislation also set up an endowment for the tribal colleges, which is now around $100 million. "We've all improved our campuses because of it," said McDonald.

Tester said he is also working with Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., who chairs the Indian affairs committee, to push for changes in the Tribally Controlled College or University Assistance Act within the Higher Education Act to make the funding of American Indian higher education a priority.

Tribe-controlled colleges only receive about $5,000 per Native student, or 20 percent less than the authorized level. After inflation factors are considered, the money spent on tribal college students is about $1,300 dollars less per Native student than in 1981, Tester said.

"I will also work to increase the per-Indian student dollar amount to $8,000 and make that number adjusted annually for inflation," he said. "Finally, I will advocate for formula funding rather than competitive grant funding for the purchase of much-needed equipment, construction, improved academic programs and expanded faculty development."

The legislation would go a long way in serving tribal colleges, which are "grossly underfunded" compared to other public education institutions, said Clark.

Dineh College needs at least $90 million over the next six years to meet basic operating costs, according to a University of Michigan study.

"We're trying to catch up; that's on top of our annual request for funding," said Clark. "I think the leadership in Congress right now in addressing tribal college needs would be tremendous and significant in terms of meeting the trust responsibility of the government. We're up against the war in Iraq. There's always a reason and excuse to keep the funding at the lower-than-recommended levels. We get tired of trying to justify our reason. We have quantitative and qualitative data to support what we've been requesting for so many years. So now is the time."

(Reach reporter Jodi Rave at 800-366-7186 or at jodi.rave@;lee.net.)