45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2002

FOR THE WATER AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING CONGRESS TO SUPPORT THE NAVAJO AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRY AND TO APPROPRIATE ADEQUATE FUNDS TO COMPLETE THE CONSTRUCTION AND TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN 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 the "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, since the project completion schedule has been delayed by more than twenty years, the industry cannot 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 timely completion of the Navajo Indian irrigation 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 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that it support 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 United States congress be requested to appropriate enough funds to complete construction of the Navajo Indian irrigation project and to sustain appropriations for the bureau of Indian affairs to operate and maintain the project; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the state engineer, 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.