25 U.S.C. § 13: Expenditure of appropriations by Bureau

The Bureau of Indian Affairs, under the supervision of the Secretary of the Interior, shall direct, supervise, and expend such moneys as Congress may from time to time appropriate, for the benefit, care, and assistance of the Indians throughout the United States for the following purposes: General support and civilization, including education. For relief of distress and conservation of health. For industrial assistance and advancement and general administration of Indian property. For extension, improvement, operation, and maintenance of existing Indian irrigation systems and for development of water supplies. For the enlargement, extension, improvement, and repair of the buildings and grounds of existing plants and projects. For the employment of inspectors, supervisors, superintendents, clerks, field matrons, farmers, physicians, Indian police, Indian judges, and other employees. For the suppression of traffic in intoxicating liquor and deleterious drugs. For the purchase of horse-drawn and motor-propelled passenger-carrying vehicles for official use. And for general and incidental expenses in connection with the administration of Indian affairs. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or any other law, postsecondary schools administered by the Secretary of the Interior for Indians, and which meet the definition of an “institution of higher education” under section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 [ 20 U.S.C. 1001 ], shall be eligible to participate in and receive appropriated funds under any program authorized by the Higher Education Act of 1965 [ 20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.] or any other applicable program for the benefit of institutions of higher education, community colleges, or postsecondary educational institutions. The Secretary of the Interior shall develop alternative methods for the equitable distribution of any supplement program funds provided, pursuant to an appropriation under the Act of November 2, 1921 , commonly referred to as the Snyder Act [ 25 U.S.C. 13 ], for contracting under the Act of April 16, 1934 , commonly referred to as the Johnson-O’Malley Act [ 25 U.S.C. 5342 et seq.], and shall publish in the Federal Register by March 1, 1979 , such alternatives for the purpose of allowing eligible tribes to comment by May 1, 1979 . At that time, the Secretary shall conduct a field survey listing all alternative formula. By July 1, 1979 , the Secretary shall establish and publish the formula in the Federal Register which the majority of such tribes determine, but vote certified to the Secretary, to be most equitable and shall use such formula for purposes of distribution of the funds appropriated pursuant to such Act beginning on or after October 1, 1979 . The Secretary shall, in accordance with procedures consistent with that prescribed herein, revise such formula periodically as necessary”.