Among legislation proposed to most appropriately go before the Navajo Nation Council’s Naabik’iyati Committee on Friday the 13th is the Navajo Nation’s support for the U.S. Native American Energy Act and Congressional extension permanently of the the Indian Coal Production Tax Credit, and the Navajo Nation’s opposition to the federal government’s proposed Carbon Tax, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Electric Generating Unit New Source Performance Standards for Carbon Dioxide Emissions and their applicability to Indian Lands and Indian Economic Instrumentalities.
The tribal support for the H.R. 1548, the Native American Energy Act, is in LEGISLATION 0192-13, which must go before the Navajo Nation Council for final approval. According to the title for 0192-14, tribal support is “to facilitate The Development of Energy on Indian Lands by reducing Federal Regulations that impede Tribal Development of Indian Lands.”
The sponsors of 0192-13 are Delegates Johnny Naize and Walter Phelps. I wonder if Naize, who was placed on administrative leave from his position as speaker, will finally attend a Naabik’iyati Meeting. Naize has not attended any meetings of the Council and Naabik’iyati Committee since the Council placed him on administrative leave on April 4, 2014.
According to a FEB. 15, 2012, NEWS STORY, news story by the Cronkite News, among the provisions of H.R. 1548, “the bill would limit Bureau of Land Management fee collections on some Native projects, set up energy development offices across Indian country and require a bond be posted by anyone who wants to challenge an energy project.”
Cronkit News also reported that some House committee members questioned hearing “witnesses on the feasibility of tribes implementing and safeguarding their management of energy development, asking whether they had the necessary resources for the job.”
“We need to be careful in our approach,” said Rep. Dan Boren, D-Okla. “We also have to keep in mind that when there’s something bad that happens we have to make sure the tribes are in a position to do what needs to be done.”
The Navajo Nation’s support for “the United States Congress’ Permanent Extension of the Indian Coal Production Tax Credit: and Navajo Nation opposition of the United States’ Proposed Carbon Tax and the U,S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “proposed Electric Generating unit New Source Performance Standards for Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and their applicability to Indian Lands and Indian Economic Instrumentalities” is in LEGISLATION 0090-14.
Also on the Naabik’iyati Committee’s proposed agenda is LEGISLATION 0123-14, which calls for a referendum for the Navajo people “to decide by majority vote whether to change Navajo Nation law at 2 N.N.C. section 102 to state that power originates from the Navajo people and that it is the People who delegate legislative authority to the Navajo Nation Council. Further the law will be changed to state that all powers not delegated are reserved to the People of the Navajo Nation.” The Council has final approval or disapproval over 0123-14.
The following is the PROPOSED AGENDA of the Naabik’iyate Committee:
PROPOSED AGENDA OF THE NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL NAABIK’ÍYÁTI’ COMMITTEE, June 13, 2014, 10:00 A.M., Navajo Council chamber, Window Rock, Ariz.
PRESIDING: Chairperson LoRenzo Bates
Naabik’íyáti’ Committee members:
Budget & Finance Committee: LoRenzo Bates, Jonathan Nez, Danny Simpson, Mel R. Begay, Lorenzo Curley, Nelson BeGaye, NNC Speaker Johnny Naize
Resources & Development Committee: Katherine Benally, Roscoe Smith, George Apachito, Leonard Tsosie, David Tom, Leonard Pete
Law and Order Committee: Edmund Yazzie, Alton Shepherd, Elmer Begay, Duane Tsinigine, Russell Begaye
Health, Education and Human Services Committee: Jonathan Hale, Charles Damon II, Dwight Witherspoon, Joshua Lavar Butler, Walter Phelps, Kenneth Maryboy
1. CALL THE COMMITTEE MEETING TO ORDER:
ROLL CALL:
INVOCATION:
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
2. Recognizing Guests and Visiting Officials.
3. Reviewing and Approving the Proposed Agenda for June 13, 2014
4. Reviewing and Approving the Journals:
5. RECEIVING REPORT(S):
a. Report from the Save the Confluence Families by Renae Yellowhorse (15 min.)
6. OLD BUSINESS:
a. LEGISLATION 0192-13: A Proposed Navajo Nation Council Resolution; An Action Relating to Resources and Development and Naabik’iyati’; supporting the “Native American Energy Act” H.R. 3973 A U.S. Congressional Bill to facilitate The Development of Energy on Indian Lands by reducing Federal Regulations that impede Tribal Development of Indian Lands.
(SPONSORS: DELEGATES Johnny Naize, Walter Phelps
On Oct. 23, 2013, 0192-13 went before the Navajo Council. Delegate Jonathan Hale held the main motion. Delegate Alton Joe Shepherd seconded Hale’s main motion.
VOTE: Council tabled 0192-13 on Oct. 23, 2013, to refer it back to the Naabik’iyati Committee.
b. LEGISLATION 0246-13: An Action Relating to Naabik’iyati’; Confirming Beverly Becenti-Pigman as a Member of the Navajo Nation Human Rights Research Review Board (0246-13 went before the Health, Education, and Human Services Committee on 5/29/14)
(SPONSOR: Delegate Walter Phelps)
Delegate David Tom held the main motion, which Delegate Jonathan L. Hale seconded.
VOTE: Nabi tabled 0246-13 with a vote of 6 in favor, 5 opposed on Aug. 29, 2013 until all comments were received from the public and the Health, Education, and Human Services Committee reviewed the IIRB.
Delegate Elmer Begay made the motion to table 0246-13, which Delegate Joshua L. Butler seconded.
7. NEW BUSINESS:
a. LEGISLATION 0090-14: Proposed Navajo Nation Council Resolution; An Action Relating to Resources and Development; Budget and Finance, and Naabik’iyati’ Committees; Supporting the Navajo Nation’s and the Crow Tribe’s combined and collaborative efforts in Energy; supporting the United States Congress’ Permanent Extension of the Indian Coal Production Tax Credit; and Opposing the United States’ Proposed Carbon Tax, The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Electric Generating unit New Source Performance Standards for Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and their applicability to Indian Lands and Indian Economic Instrumentalities.
(0090-14 went before the Budget & Finance Committee on June 3, 2014)
(Sponsors: Delegates Johnny Naize and Roscoe Smith)
b. LEGISLATION 0108-14: Relating to Resources and Development and Naabik’iyati; approving and authorizing a Model 108 Contract between Navajo Nation and The United Stated Department of the Interior, for the Planning and Design of the San Juan Basin Irrigation Rehabilitation Project
(0108-14 went before Resources & Development Committee on June 3, 2014)
(Sponsor: Delegate Russell Begaye)
c. LEGISLATION 0116-14: An Action Relating to Health, Education, and Human Services and Naabik’iyati’ Committees; Confirming the appointments of Sharon Jackson, Vivian Arviso, Shirley Montoya, Lolita M. Paddock, and Charlotte Begay to the Navajo Women’s Commission, Each for a Four Year Term (0116-14 went before the Health, Education, and Human Services Committee on May 29, 2014)
(Sponsor: Delegate Katherine Benally)
d. LEGISLATION 0121-14: An Acton Relating to Budget and Finance and Naabik’iyati’ Committees; Confirming the Appointment of Mark C. Graham to the Navajo Tax Commission for a Five Year Term.
(0121-14 went before Budget & Finance Committee on June 3, 2014)
(Sponsor: Delegate LoRenzo Bates)
e. LEGISLATION 0122-14: Proposed Navajo Nation Council Resolution; an Action Relating to the Resources and Development and Naabik’iyati’ Committees; accepting the Fort Wingate Task force memorandum supporting H.R. 3822 The “Fort Wingate Land Division Act of 2014”; and documenting the Navajo Nation’s support of U.S. House Bill H.R. 3822 The “Fort Wingate Land Division Act of 2014”
(0122-14 went before Resources & Development Committee on June 3, 2014)
(Sponsor: Delegate Danny Simpson)
f. LEGISLATION 0123-14: An Action Relating to Law and Order, Naabik’iyati and the Navajo Nation Council; Referring a Referendum Measure on Amending 2 N.N.C. §102 (NABI)
(Sponsor: Delegate Jonathan Nez)
g. LEGISLATION 0129-14: An Action Relating to Health, Education and Human Services and Naabik’iyati Committees; confirming the appointment of Tommy Platero to the Navajo Technical University Board of Trustees for the Ft. Defiance Agency, for a Four Year Term.
(0129-14 went before Health, Education, and Human Services Committee on June 4, 2014)
(Sponsor: Delegate Jonathan L. Hale)
h. LEGISLATION 0134-14: An Action Relating to Naabiki’yati’ Committee; Confirming the appointment of Nicole Johnny to the Commission on Navajo Government Development for a two year term.
(Went before NABI)
(Sponsor: Delegate Jonathan L. Hale)
i. LEGISLATION 0135-14: An Action Relating to Naabiki’yati’ Committee; Creating an interviewing subcommittee composed of Five (5) members one from each of the Navajo Nation Council Standing Committees for the purpose of making recommendations and setting interview date(s) to fill all Eight (8) positions on the Board of Commissioners of the Navajo Housing Authority.
(Went before NABI)
(Sponsor: Delegate Alton Joe Shepherd)
8. NEXT MEETING DATE: Thursday, June 26, 2014
9. CLOSING OF THE COMMITTEE MEETING; ANNOUNCEMENT; ADJOURNMENT.
