Facebook Twitter Email
THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2003

The following is a press release from Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.).

U.S. Senator Pete Domenici, a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, today joined forces to revive legislation with wide-ranging importance to American Indians in New Mexico.

Domenici is an original cosponsor of the Indian Programs Reauthorization and Technical Amendments Act, introduced today by Indian Affairs Committee Chairman Senator Ben Nighthorse-Campbell. This bill includes a number of minor, noncontroversial issues in one package, as opposed to introducing and attempting to enact a number of smaller bills.

Similar legislation was approved by the Senate in the 107th Congress, but failed to pass the U.S. House.

"This bill provides an excellent opportunity to move bills that are of interest to tribes and pueblos in New Mexico," Domenici said. "In addition to extending federal support for a number of laws benefitting all Indian people, this legislation would codify several settlements and agreements specific to the state."

Among the separate items are New Mexico provisions dealing with: Bosque Redondo Memorial Act; the Navajo-Hopi Land Settlement Act of 1974; and the Cochiti Pueblo Settlement Act.

Related to the Navajo-Hopi Land Settlement Act of 1974, the bill approved today authorizes a Navajo-Hopi Relocation Impact Study. Upon enactment of the bill, the Interior Secretary would have one year to complete a study to determine whether the purposes of the 1974 law have been achieved, and whether recommended activities should be carried out to mitigate the consequences of the implementation of the Navajo-Hopi Land Settlement Act.

The Navajo-Hopi study would include an analysis of: the long-term effects of the relocation programs; ongoing needs of the populations relocated under the Act; ongoing needs of the other communities affected by relocations under the law; and the effects of termination of the relocation programs. The bill authorizes the use of $1 million to conduct the study. Another section of the bill extends the authorization period for the Navajo-Hopi Land Settlement Act of 1974, which technically expired Sept. 30, 2000, through FY2008.

Other key New Mexico-specific items in the Technical Amendments package, which will next be considered by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, include:

Bosque Redondo Memorial Act:
The bill extends appropriations authorization for this law, passed in 2000, to FY2007. This gives Congress and the state of New Mexico additional time to provide funding for the creation of a $4 million memorial and visitors center near the Fort Sumner State Monument in DeBaca County to commemorate "The Long Walk," the forced migration and internment of Navajo and Mescalero Apache Indians in the 1860s. Congress in 2001 approved an initial $2 million for the project, which will require a 50 percent match from state and local funds. Domenici cosponsored this legislation.

Pueblo of Santo Domingo Waiver of Repayment of Expert Assistance Loans:
The bill cancels the balances of expert assistance loans made to the Pueblo of Santo Domingo under Public Law 88-168 (77 Stat. 301), and relating to Pueblo of Santo Domingo v. United States (Docket No.355 of the United States Court of Federal Claims).

Relevant Links:
Sen. Pete Domenici - http://domenici.senate.gov
Senate Indian Affairs Committee - http://indian.senate.gov