Rep. Gabe Vasquez Leads Bipartisan Bill To Ensure Tribal Children Have Fair Shot at High-Quality Education

WASHINGTON, D.C.- On March 4, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02)announced the re-introduction of his bipartisan Parity for Tribal Educators Actto address teacher shortages in Indian Country. The legislation would provide teachers at Tribally-controlled schools the same federal retirement benefits that teachers at Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools receive, ensuring Tribal students have equal access to educational opportunity.

"This bill is about doing right by our Tribal communities, overcoming recruitment and retention issues, and making sure every child in New Mexico has a fair shot at success," said Vasquez. "Giving Tribal teachers the benefits they deserve helps keep Tribal schools staffed with quality educators - the type of quality educators who help Tribal students unlock their brightest futures possible."

Co-led by Rep. Dusty Johnson(R-SD), the Parity for Tribal Educators Act has support from across the aisle and is a commonsense step toward fairness, increasing retention rates at Tribally-controlled schools, and providing quality education to all children. New Mexico has 18 Tribally-controlled schools, and their educators deserve access to the same benefits enjoyed by teachers at the Bureau of Indian Education and public schools across America.

"Tribal educators are doing the same work as their Bureau of Indian Affairs counterparts. They should have access to the same retirement programs. The Parity for Tribal Educators Actfixes that disparity and would help recruit and retain tribal educators," said Johnson. "I'm grateful for Rep. Vasquez's partnership on this issue to improve the quality of education tribal schools across America."

The Parity for Tribal Educators Act is endorsed by National Indian Education Association, National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the Mescalero Apache Tribe, and the Ramah Navajo School Board.

"The National Indian Education Association supports the Parity for Tribal Educators Act. We appreciate the leadership of Representatives Gabe Vasquez and Dusty Johnson in advancing legislation that strengthens teacher retention in tribally controlled schools and helps ensure educators receive equitable, high-quality employment benefits," said Jason Dropik, Executive Director of the National Indian Education Association.

"Parity for tribal educators is a matter of basic fairness. The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is proud to endorse the Parity for Tribal Educators Act, a bipartisan effort to ensure our teachers are no longer left behind when it comes to their retirement and well-being. By strengthening recruitment and retention in Indian Country, this legislation represents a meaningful investment in Tribal schools and the students they serve," said Larry Wright, Jr., Executive Director of the National Congress of American Indians.

"Similar to many rural areas, recruiting and retaining highly qualified educators in our community presents challenges, particularly due to insufficient compensation," said Thora Walsh Padilla, President of Mescalero Apache Tribe. "I appreciate Representative Vasquez for reintroducing the Parity for Tribal Educators Act, which aims to support Mescalero Apache Schools in attracting and retaining the dedicated teachers that our students need and deserve."

"Ramah Navajo School Board applauds Rep. Vasquez for his unwavering support of our Tribal teachers, schools, and students and unequivocally supports this bill. We have fought long and hard to ensure our Tribal educators are compensated fairly, and Rep. Vasquez's leadership on this issue will improve learning outcomes for our young people for generations to come," said a spokesperson for the Ramah Navajo School Board.

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