HM 23 — NATIVE AMERICAN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT

HOUSEA MEMORIAL 23URGING 55THTHE LEGISLATUREFEDERAL -GOVERNMENT STATEAND OFTHE NEWMEXICONEW -MEXICO FIRSTCONGRESSIONAL SESSIONDELEGATION 2021TO INTRODUCEDCOLLABORATE BYWITH RodNEW MontoyaMEXICO andINDIAN D.NATIONS, TRIBES AND PUEBLOS TO INCREASE INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND REDUCE POVERTY AMONG NATIVE AMERICAN POPULATIONS.

Wonda8 JohnsonWHEREAS, andin Anthonythe AllisonUnited andStates, Georgenethere Louisare 7three 9types Aof MEMORIALreserved URGINGfederal THElands: FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE NEW MEXICO CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO COLLABORATE WITH NEW MEXICO INDIAN NATIONS, TRIBES AND PUEBLOS TO INCREASE INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND REDUCE POVERTY AMONG NATIVE AMERICAN POPULATIONS.

16 WHEREAS, in the United States, there are three types of e t 17 reserved federal lands:

and w l n d 18 WHEREAS, approximately fifty-six million two hundred = = 19 a l thousand acres are held in trust by the federal government for i a e r 20 various Indian nations, tribes, pueblos and individuals;

and a t m m 21 WHEREAS, the federal government should support efforts of d r e 22 the Indian nations, tribes and pueblos to expand utility and c e s k 23 broadband infrastructure, encourage economic development, e a n b 24 increase entrepreneurship and reduce barriers toward those u [ efforts;

and .220198.4 WHEREAS, on the Navajo Nation, thirty-two percent of homes do not have electricity, thirty-one percent do not have indoor plumbing, thirty-eight percent do not have running water and sixty percent do not have telephone service or internet connectivity;

and WHEREAS, according to the Navajo tribal utility authority, at the current electricity hookup rate, it will takeHM thirty-23 fivePage 1 take thirty-five years and hundreds of millions of dollars to connect electricity service to the entire Navajo Nation;

and WHEREAS, fifty-six percent of the Navajo Nation population e t 17 twenty-five years of age or older has a high school diploma, w l n d 18 while seven percent has a college degree;

= = 19 a l NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF i a e r 20 REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the federal a t m m 21 government and the New Mexico congressional delegation be urged d r e 22 to collaborate with Indian nations, tribes and pueblos to c e s k 23 reduce poverty among Native American populations in New Mexico;

e a n b 24 and u [ BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico congressional .220198.4 - 2 - delegation be urged to introduce legislation to assist the bureau of Indian affairs with expanding infrastructure accessibility, reducing poverty rates, increasing economic opportunity and improving educational access for Indian nations, tribes and pueblos in New Mexico;

and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be HM 23 Page 2 transmitted to the New Mexico congressional delegation, the members of the United States congress, the United States secretary of the interior, the director of the bureau of Indian affairs, the president and council members of the Navajo Nation council and New Mexico's twenty-three Indian nations, tribes and pueblos.

-HM 3 - 15 e t 17 w l n d 18 = = 19 a l i a e r 20 a t m m 21 d r e 22 c e s k 23 ePage a3 n8 b25 24 u [ .220198.4