Native American Energy Act
Floor Speech
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Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Madam Chair, I yield myself
as much time as I may consume.
I rise in support of my amendment that allows the Forest Service to
establish a pilot program to execute contracts with tribes under the
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, known as 638
contracts. 638 contracts allow tribes to manage and implement Federal
programs in Indian Country.
When I was the New Mexico Secretary of Health, I witnessed how
successful and beneficial these contracts can be at efficiently
delivering services to tribes. Through these contracts, tribes can
operate hospitals, health clinics, mental health facilities, and a
variety of other community health services.
Having tribes manage and operate programs in their communities not
only recognizes tribal self-determination and self-governance, but it
also helps ensure that tribal needs are being met through traditionally
and culturally appropriate methods.
Although several agencies have the authority to execute 638
contracts, such as the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of
Reclamation, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Services, the
Forest Service does not have this authority. Several tribes have
expressed to me that they would like to see the Forest Service have
this authority.
Many of the Pueblos in New Mexico have land and tribal forests
adjacent to national forests, and we know that wildfires in the past
can quickly affect entire regions, regardless of who owns the land.
In fact, the Las Conchas wildland fire, which was one of the largest
wildfires in New Mexico history, started on June 26, 2011, in the Santa
Fe National Forest and burned more than 156,000 acres in New Mexico,
including land belonging to Pueblos of Santa Clara, Ohkay Owingeh, San
Ildefonso, Pojoaque Jemez, Cochiti, and Kewa.
So it is imperative that the Forest Service and tribes actively work
together to co-manage forests.
This amendment previously passed by voice vote as part of the
Resilient Federal Forest Act, which the House passed this July.
I urge my colleagues to once again support my amendment, which will
improve the Forest Service's ability to partner with tribes to work on
projects that impact tribal lands and forests.
I yield back the balance of my time.
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Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, this is the final
amendment to the bill, which does not kill the bill or send it back to
committee. If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final
passage, as amended.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer an amendment to protect sacred
sites across America. This issue is not a new one. We have been part of
many debates here on the floor and in committee on this important
issue.
The amendment is straightforward. It reads: ``Nothing in this Act
shall contravene the authority of the President to avoid adversely
affecting the physical integrity of any site, identified as sacred by
virtue of established religious significance to, or ceremonial use by,
an Indian religion, under Executive Order 13007.''
Mr. Speaker, as we come from different faiths, we all have respect
for one another. Just as we worship in different places, like churches
or temples, so, too, should we have respect for these sacred places.
Just as we would honor the sanctity of where our loved ones have been
laid to rest, so, too, should we honor the sanctity of tribal sacred
sites.
Sacred sites are an essential part of the culture and heritage of
tribal communities, and the degradation of these sites means a loss of
identity as well as disrespect for the faith and religion and the
culture and the history of our tribal brothers and sisters who are
connected to these lands. Sacred sites should not be desecrated. They
should be protected.
I know it is a sentiment that many of us in this Congress share.
Protecting sacred sites is the right thing to do. I ask my colleagues
to join me in supporting this very important amendment.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
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