REAUTHORIZE HOUSING RELOCATION UNDER THE NAVAJO-HOPI RELOCATION PROGRAM WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1987 U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 3:43 p.m., in room 485, Russell Senate Office Building, Hon. Daniel K. Inouye (chairman of the committee) presiding. Present: Senators Inouye, DeConcini, Daschle, Murkowski, and McCain. Also present: Representative John J. Rhodes, III. STATEMENT OF HON. DANIEL K. INOUYE, U.S. SENATOR FROM HAWAII, CHAIRMAN, SELECT COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS The Chairman. The committee will please come to order. S. 1236 is a bill to increase the annual housing authorization, for the Navajo-Hopi Relocation Commission and to increase the Commission's authorization level for payment of bonuses to individuals who voluntarily apply for benefits under Public Law 93-531, the Navajo-Hopi Land Settlement Act. Perhaps no other current issue in Indian affairs is as important or as urgent or as sensitive as the resettlement of Navajo people from lands partitioned to the Hopi Tribe under the 1974 act. The uprooting of any people for any purpose can only be painful and distressing to them and to those responsible for carrying out resettlement. Every Member of the Congress has some awareness of the relocation process and the disruption of the many lives the relocation has necessitated. No other Indian condition has so captured the attention of the American people and their representatives in Congress for such an extended period of time. As originally envisioned by the Congress, the entire process of moving Navajo people from lands partitioned to the Hopi Tribe and Hopi people from lands partitioned to the Navajo was to take five years. The Navajo-Hopi Relocation Commission was established and funded as an agency responsible for the movement of these people. It has now been 6 years, and the job is far from done. The myriad of problems associated with moving 10,000 traditional Navajo people from lands they have occupied for about 100 years has proven far more difficult than anticipated. (1) The Relocation Commission believes that the new housing required can be constructed in 3 or 4 years if the appropriation level is raised. S. 1236 would increase the housing authorization level from $15 million to $30 million per year. Additionally, the bill would increase the funding available for incentive bonus payments to those individuals who voluntarily agree to relocate. The committee looks forward to testimony on these issues. We also look forward to hearing from the witnesses regarding amendments proposed by two very distinguished members of this committee, Senator DeConcini and Senator McCain, that would reorganize and restructure the Commission. [The text of S. 1236 follows:] To reauthorize housing relocation under the Navajo-Hopi Relocation Program, and for other purposes. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES Mat 19 (legislative day, Mat 13), 1987 Mr. Inoutb introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Select Committee on Indian Affairs A BILL To reauthorize housing relocation under the Navajo-Hopi 1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa 2 lives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 3 Section 1. Subsection (a) of section 25 of Public Law 4 93-531 (25 U.S.C. 640d-24(a)) is amended— 5 (1) by striking out "$7,700,000" in paragraph (4) 6 and inserting in lieu thereof "$13,000,000", and 7 (2) by striking out "$15,000,000 annually for 8 fiscal years 1983 through 1987" in paragraph (8) and 9 inserting in lieu thereof "$30,000,000 for fiscal year 10 1988, and for each succeeding fiscal year". 2 1 Sec. 2. Subsection (b) of section 27 of Public Law 93 2 531 (25 U.S.C. 640d-25)) is amended to read as follows: 3 "(b) Funds appropriated under the authority of subsec 4 tion (a) may be used by the Commission for grants, contracts, 5 or expenditures which significantly assist the Commission in 6 carrying out the duties of the Commission or assist the 7 Navajo Tribe or Hopi Tribe in meeting the requirements of 8 this Act.". O |