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[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 93 (Thursday, June 8, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H5736-H5737]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

       NAVAJO-HOPI RELOCATION HOUSING PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT

  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Resources be discharged from further consideration of the Senate 
bill (S. 349) to reauthorize appropriations for the Navajo-Hopi 
Relocation Housing Program, and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I yield 
to the gentleman from California [Mr. Gallegly] to enable him to 
explain this piece of legislation.
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the immediate 
consideration of S. 349, legislation which would reauthorize, for the 
upcoming 2 fiscal years, funding for that portion of the 1974 Navajo-
Hopi Land Dispute Settlement Act, Public Law 93-531, which has come to 
be known as the Navajo-Hopi Relocation Housing Program.
  This housing program provides payments to relocated Navajo and Hopi 
families who have been forced from lands partitioned pursuant to the 
provisions of Public Law 93-531.
  As of the beginning of this year, Mr. Speaker, 2,518 families had 
been relocated. Another 746 eligible families are awaiting their 
benefits. Additional families may be determined to be eligible for 
relocation assistance in the months and years ahead. [[Page H5737]] 
  S. 349 is needed so that this relocation program may be brought to a 
conclusion and this chapter in the long dispute between Hopi and the 
Navajo tribes can be resolved.
  This legislation would authorize to be appropriated not more than $30 
million each year for the upcoming 2 fiscal years.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this important legislation.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, 
the purpose of S. 349 is to extend the authorization of the Navajo-Hopi 
Relocation Housing Program through fiscal year 1997. The Navajo-Hopi 
Land Dispute Settlement Act was enacted in 1974 to resolve land 
disputes between the tribes dating back over a century. The act 
required the partition of the disputed lands and relocation of members 
of each tribe from the lands partitioned to the other tribe.
  The House has had hours of debate on the land dispute between the 
Navajo and Hopi tribes and I will not debate the merits or problems 
here today. This bill does nothing to change the Settlement Act or the 
lands addressed by it. It simply allows for an extension of time for 
additional families to relocate.
  As is often the case, I think it is safe to say that neither tribe is 
thrilled with this bill, but both accept it as necessary to the process 
which I hope will come to an end soon.
  The Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the Senate bill, as follows:

                                 S. 349

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. REAUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE NAVAJO-
                   HOPI RELOCATION HOUSING PROGRAM.

       Section 25(a)(8) of Public Law 93-531 (25 U.S.C. 640d-
     24(a)(8)) is amended by striking ``1989,'' and all that 
     follows through ``and 1995.'' and inserting ``1995, 1996, and 
     1997.''.

  The Senate bill was ordered to be read a third time, was read the 
third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

                          ____________________
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