HERE AT NAVAJO COUNCIL SESSION AND DELEGATES LEONARD YAZZIE, KATHERINE BENALLY AND LORENZO CURLEY ARE TRYING TO REMOVE LEGISLATION 0091-14, WHICH IS THE RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE’S SUBCOMMITTEE THAT WAS CREATED TO DRAFT AGREEMENT WITH URI FOR IN-SITU URANIUM MINING DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.
DELEGATE LEONARD TSOSIE
Item E was not sent to RDC so here illegally, and the same is true of Items I, J, K, L, M, N, O. If do right, then there will be no legal challenges and that includes Items that are confirmation. I plan to vote no on agenda because it would condone mockery of our laws. Just because we have the vote, it doesn’t mean we shud bully legislation through the process.
ITEM E IS LEGISLATION 0091-14 – RSCINDING, REPEALING AND RENDERING NULL AND VOID RESOLUTION RDCD-69-13 – RELATING TO RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT; ACKNOWLEDGING THE RIGHT-OF-WAY AND SURFACE USE BY URANIUM RESOURCES INC., OF ITS CHURCH ROCK PROPERTIES LICENSED BY THE US NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION LICENSE NO. SUA-1580; AUTHORIZING A SUBCOMMITTEE
SPONSOR IS DELEGATE EDMUND YAZZIE
DELEGATE EDMUND YAZZIE
I ask that we approve agenda. everything went through process.
DELEGATE WALTER PHELPS
Delete old business A
SPEAKER PRO TEMP BATES
this legislation would be ready for Council if there was a consensus and there is no consesus.
VOTE ON DELETING LEGISLATION 0192-14: SUPPORTING THE “NATIVE AMERICAN ENERGY ACT” H.R. 3973, a US Congressional bill to facilitate the development of energy on Indian lands by reducing federal regulations that impede tribal development of Indian Lands.
DELEGATE KATHERINE BENALLY
Wat is the legal opinion of Item E regarding whether or not it should go to RDC.
CHIEF LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL LEVON HENRY
The Naabik’iyati Committee may refer legislation to Council and that is how Item E came to Council.
Under power of Naabik’iyati Committee, Naabi may recommend Items/Legislation to the Council.
DELEGATE KATHERINE BENALLY
so is Naabik’iyati Committee usurping all committees? Why do we have committees?
CHIEF LEGISLATIVE LEVON HENRY
The powers of committees are retained.
POINT OF ORDER – DELEGATE LEONARD TSOSIE
I think that chief legislative counsel is not understanding question – should Item E have gone to RDC and RDC Chairperson is questioning that. and if start doing things like this, since use Naabik’iyati Committee to usurp committee powers then let’s start with annual tribal government operating budget and take budget to Naabik’iyati Committee instead of proposed budget going to Budget & Finance Committee. if he’s not understanding, then refer to attorney general.
POINT OF ORDER – MEL BEGAY
We are beginning to debate out of realms of subject.
DELEGATE EDMUND YAZZIE
my understanding is that Item E moves forward and stays on agenda. when we talked about Item E, you and legal counsel said it moves to Council.
SPEAKER PRO TEMP BATES
no motion to delete and once agenda adopted, it can be referred back to RDC. Once it gets to Council, it belongs to Council.
DELEGATE LORENZO CURLEY
if delete Item A then not willing to talk energy matters at national level and Item E pertains to energy at national level. It’s the same thing and I would think that we are holding off on energy matters then we shud hold off on Item E.
