# 119-hr-9973: Indigenous Students Excel through Parity Act of 2026 (II)

119-hr-9973, Indigenous Students Excel through Parity Act of 2026 (II), is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1] (D-NM); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-13).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9973
- As of: 2026-08-13
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-9973
- Congress: 119
- Title: Indigenous Students Excel through Parity Act of 2026 (II)
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-07-27
- Sponsor: Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1] (D-NM)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Native Americans
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-13

## Summary

**Per-pupil funding parity for Indian students.** This bill would update the Indian School Equalization Formula (ISEF) and the Indian School Equalization Program (ISEP) to realign funding so Bureau of Indian Education and tribally controlled schools receive support that better matches state salary levels and school costs. - Would require the Secretary to update the ISEF within one year and ensure the formula provides sufficient funding to adequately support BIE-operated and tribally controlled schools' programs and operations. - Would direct the Secretary to consider average state-by-state school staff salaries and to ensure the updated formula funds salaries at a rate commensurate with matching the highest salary quartile for comparable schools. - Would build in special considerations for tribally controlled schools, schools with fewer than 100 students, and rural schools, and it would award Havasupai Elementary School an additional 12.5 Weighted Student Unit (WSU). The Secretary must also send Congress a report on the formula's adequacy and recommended changes.

## Provisions PRIA read

- More funding for tribal schools: benefit, medium. If enacted, this bill would require the Interior Department to update the Indian School Equalization Formula within 1 year. The update would consider State-by-State average staff salaries (with attention to matching the highest quartile), add weights for tribally controlled, small (under 100 studen…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-5658: Child Care for Every Community Act
- 119-hr-3971: Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act
- 119-hr-5356: National Infrastructure Bank Act of 2025
- 119-hr-3069: Medicare for All Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-9973 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/9973)

## Related
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-5658: Child Care for Every Community Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5658)
- [119-hr-3971: Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3971)
- [119-hr-5356: National Infrastructure Bank Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5356)
- [119-hr-3069: Medicare for All Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3069)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9973 (as of 2026-08-13).