SENATE MEMORIAL 10

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

Cisco McSorley

A MEMORIAL

CONDEMNING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND THE DAMAGE CAUSED TO NEW MEXICO'S NAVAJO NATION MEMBERS.

     WHEREAS, at midnight eastern standard time on December 22, 2018, a partial shutdown of the United States federal government occurred when the president of the United States and congress were unable to agree on legislation appropriating funds for the upcoming year and a temporary continuing resolution was not enacted in time; and

     WHEREAS, while the government shutdown has been described as a political game of chicken, it is no game to many Native American tribal governments that rely heavily on federal money to operate, and the shutdown has crippled many basic functions; and

     WHEREAS, generations ago, tribes entered into treaties with the United States government that guaranteed funds for services such as health care and education in exchange for huge parcels of territory; and

     WHEREAS, many tribal governments rely on federal dollars to pay police officers or to run schools and hospitals; and

     WHEREAS, the Navajo Nation is a mostly rural reservation that spans parts of New Mexico, Arizona and Utah, and many residents live on dirt roads; and

     WHEREAS, the bureau of Indian affairs under the United States department of the interior normally maintains Navajo Nation roads; and

     WHEREAS, as frigid temperatures and significant snowstorms moved into the Navajo Nation during the holidays, residents were trapped in their homes as federally funded snowplows stopped running; and

     WHEREAS, because of unplowed and snow-drifted roads, many Navajo Nation residents were unable to make trips to buy urgently needed essentials such as water, groceries and medicine; and

     WHEREAS, the federal government contributes to the salaries of many members of the Navajo Nation; and

     WHEREAS, Navajo Nation president Russell Begaye said the lack of pay for members who rely on federal government contributions to salaries hurts families on the reservation, where a single salary can support a family of six or more people; and

     WHEREAS, leaders and tribal members in Indian country are burdened by not knowing how much longer they can operate or if they will be reimbursed for shutdown-related expenses; and

     WHEREAS, the inability of the president and congress to reach a solution and pass a budget and the continued furloughs and closures directly affect the quality of life for Navajo Nation members;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the federal government be condemned for its inability to govern with the best interests of people before politics; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the president of the United States and congressional leaders be requested to rise above their partisan bickering and end the government shutdown; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the president of the United States, the president pro tempore of the United States senate, the speaker of the United States house of representatives and Navajo Nation president Russell Begaye.

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