44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

IN SUPPORT OF THE NAVAJO AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRY AND ITS REQUEST FOR ADEQUATE AND SUSTAINED FEDERAL APPROPRIATIONS TO COMPLETE THE NAVAJO INDIAN IRRIGATION PROJECT AND FOR THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF THE NAVAJO INDIAN IRRIGATION PROJECT.

WHEREAS, the Navajo agricultural products industry, a farming and agribusiness enterprise of the Navajo nation, was formed in 1970 to develop the Navajo nation's agricultural economy on the lands of the Navajo Indian irrigation project; and

WHEREAS, the Navajo agricultural products industry's customers include major food processing companies throughout the United States and internationally, and their "Navajo Pride" brand has gained wide consumer acceptance as an excellent high-quality product; and

WHEREAS, the Navajo agricultural products industry is a diverse, profitable business enterprise that directly contributes over fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) annually to the regional economy and employs three hundred full-time employees and one thousand seasonal employees during peak operations; and

WHEREAS, the Navajo agricultural products industry's future projects include continued crop diversification, food processing plants, modern crop storage and processing facilities to fulfill customer packaging preferences and peak market demands; and

WHEREAS, the Navajo agricultural products industry uses water provided by the Navajo Indian irrigation project to cultivate sixty thousand acres and that since the project completion schedule has been delayed by more than twenty years, the industry can not cultivate the remaining fifty thousand acres; and

WHEREAS, further completion delays of the irrigation project will have negative impacts through lost economic benefits to the Navajo agricultural products industry and the Navajo nation's plans for a self-sustaining agricultural-based economy in northwestern New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, the Navajo agricultural products industry board of directors has requested assistance and support from the United States congress and the president of the United States in securing adequate and sustained funding for the Navajo Indian irrigation project for timely completion of the project and to increase the appropriation for the bureau of Indian affairs irrigation canal operation and maintenance, which the Navajo agricultural products industry contracts from the bureau of Indian affairs;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that it hereby applaud and support the accomplishments and economic contributions of the Navajo agricultural products industry and the Navajo nation's efforts to provide a self-sustaining agricultural-based economy in northwestern New Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico legislature recommend to the United States congress and the president of the United States that an appropriation be made in the amount of thirty-eight million five hundred thousand dollars ($38,500,000) in fiscal year 2000 to continue design and construction of the Navajo Indian irrigation project and that subsequent sustained appropriations be made to ensure timely completion of the project; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico legislature request the United States congress and the president of the United States to ensure that an appropriation of eight million three hundred fifty-six thousand dollars ($8,356,000) be made in fiscal year 2000 for the bureau of Indian affairs irrigation operation and maintenance which is contracted from the bureau of Indian affairs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the United States congress through the New Mexico congressional delegation, the president of the United States, the Navajo agricultural products industry board of directors, the Navajo nation president and the Navajo nation council.