SPONOR OF LEGISLATION/DELEGATE ALTON SHEPHERD
Asking for one amendment which is to carryover balance in Navajo Nation Veterans Trust Fund into 2014 budget.
I see this as final stage of this legislation which would provide funding for homes for veterans. We will continue to monitor this project which I believe will continue to grow.
At Naa’biki’yati’ Committee discussed extensively and it was passed.
LEGISLTION #0193-13: AMENDING THE NAVAJO NATION TRUST FUND, 12 N.C.C. SECTION 1171, TO PROVIDE FOR EQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE ANNAUL COMPREHENSIVE BUDGETED AMMOUNT BETWEEN THE NAVAJO NATION VETERANS TRUST FUND AND THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO CONSTRUCT 15 HOMES AND TO PROVIDE MINOR RENOVATIONS AND REPAIRS FOR NAVAJO VETERANS IN EACH OF THE FIVE NAVAJO AGENCIES.
AMENDMENT 1
DELEGATE LORENZO BATES
Approve carryover of available Veterans Trust Fund from fiscal year 2013 to fiscal year 2014.
DELEGSATE LEONARD TSOSIE
We don’t have any dollar figures. How much will be used? How much will revert into Veterans Funds?
There is no dollar amount again. I have a serious problem and it’s not in the legislative act and look at whole section. If look at section 1176 of Veterans Trust Fund, you can spend Trust Fund until people vote with referendum.
And who choose these five veterans? And I see the names of some former chapter officials. And we have thousands of veterans.
We shouldn’t adopt this. What I also see is that there is a process for spending Veterans Trust Fund and there should at least be a vote.
I think we are being lawless. And even though Navajo government not obligated to help veterans; we do. This is responsiblity of U.S. government. There is so much need for children but yet helping adults. And if you ask a veteran, he or she will say, “Feed the children first.”
DELEGATE LEONARD PETE
I’m reading that balance of 2013 funds from Veterans Trust Fund would not revert into Veterans Trust Fund?
DELEGATE ELMER BEGAY
Veterans spoke about this legislation and now Delegate Bates sponsoring legislation for unexpended money from Veterans Trust Fund to not go back into Veterans Trust Fund.
Veterans said that if anyone wants to help them that they have to go all the way cuz they go all the way with their prayers.
DELEGATES BATES
look at budget and it states 4 percent would go towards construction of homes and the purpose of amendment is that if during this process that unexpended dollars would return to Veterans Fund. But this amendment allows money to stay there to complete construction of homes.
DELEGATE SHEPHERD
As far as understanding Delegate Tsosie’s question, $86.1 million as of Aug. 8, 2013, is principal balance and can’t touch.
My intent is amend codification by diverting 2 percent of the 4 percent setaside of tribal revenues that go into Veterans Trust Fund based on percentage.
DELEGATE TSOSIE
Where in the law does it state that it/unexpended Veterans Trust Fund money reverts back into Veterans Trust Fund?
at end of each year, dollars lapse, except for chapters which get an automatic carryover. In this situation, it is practice that any dollars from Permanent Trust Fund lapse back into Veterans Trust Fund.
DELEGATE NELSON BEGAY
The projection for funds for Veterans Trust Fund and other Trust Funds are received in increments which makes expenditures of available Trust Fund money difficult and time consuming which would then make construction of homes for veterans time consuming.
DELEGATE WALTER PHELPS
Veterans in my area support this but there’s a concern about amendment, especially since Council just finished discussing the 50-50 formula for distribution of tribal revenues to chapters.
DELEGATE BATES
50-50 formula doesn’t apply.
DELEGATE RUSSELL BEGAYE
I support amendment. This is for 15 homes in each of the five agencies for veterans.
VOTE ON AMENDMENT 1 BY DELEGATE BATES TO ALLOW CARRYOVER OF UNEXPENDED AVAILABLE VETERANS TRUST FUND AT 7:25 PM
13 IN FAVOR, 3 OPPOSED
