DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND RELATED 33-160 O U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1974 COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS GEORGE H. MAHON, Texas, Chairman JAMIE L. WHITTEN, Mississippi EDWARD P. BOLAND, Massachusetts ROBERT N. GIAIMO, Connecticut JULIA BUTLER HANSEN, Washington FRANK E. EVANS, Colorado EDWARD R. ROYBAL, California J. EDWARD ROUSH, Indiana GUNN MCKAY, Utah TOM BEVILL, Alabama EDITH GREEN, Oregon ROBERT O. TIERNAN, Rhode Island BILL CHAPPELL, JR., Florida BILL D. BURLISON, Missouri GORDON E. CASEY ELFORD A. CEDERBERG, Michigan J. KENNETH ROBINSON, Virginia C. W. BILL YOUNG, Florida KEITH F. MAINLAND, Clerk and Staff Director NICHOLAS G. CAVAROCCHI GEORGE E. EVANS ROBERT B. FOSTER JOHN M. GARRITY MILTON B. MEREDITH DONALD E. RICHBOURG SURVEYS AND INVESTIGATIONS C. R. ANDERSON, Chief NOTE. This Surveys and Investigations supervisory staff is supplemented by selected personnel borrowed on a reimbursable basis for varying lengths of time from various agencies to staff up specific studies and investigations. The current average annual fulltime personnel equivalent is approximately 42. GERARD J. CHOUINARD PAUL V. FARMER SANDRA A. GILBERT EVA K. HARRIS PATRICIA A. KEMP VIRGINIA MAY KEYSER ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AUSTIN G. SMITH RANDOLPH THOMAS GENERAL BOOKBINDING CO. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1975 MONDAY, APRIL 8, 1974. TESTIMONY OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS VARIOUS INTERIOR BUDGET ITEMS WITNESS HON. HAROLD RUNNELS, A REPRESENTATIVE IN THE CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO Mrs. HANSEN. The committee will come to order. This morning we begin our hearings with Members of Congress and other individuals and organizations. Our first witness is Congressman Runnels of New Mexico. Congressman Runnels, it is a pleasure to welcome you. Mr. RUNNELS. It is my pleasure, Madam Chairman, to be here this morning. I again thank you and members of the committee for letting me have the opportunity to appear before you. I have really three requests in one before your committee this morning. Rather than make three appearances I would ask that my statement appear in full in your committee record. Mrs. HANSEN. It is so ordered. [The statement follows:] STATEMENT BY U.S. REPRESENTATIVE HAROLD RUNNELS, IN SUPPORT OF REQUESTS BY THE COUNCIL GOVERNMENTS OF THE NAVAJO TRIBE, THE LAGUNA PUEBLO AND THE RAMAH NAVAJO SCHOOL BOARD Madam Chairman, I appreciate the opportunity to appear before you again in support of funding requests by officials of the Indian citizens I have the pleasure to represent in Congress. My statement is in regard to a request for $3,405,000 to fully develop the first section of land for the Navajo Indian irrigation project, a request from the Laguna Pueblo for $2.5 million in funds for the construction of a new junior high school, and a request for $2.7 million for the continuing construction of the Ramah Navajo school system. Recently, the Gallup, N. Mex., newspaper carried the bold print headline: "Navajo Irrigation To Begin in 1976.” This was based on a statement by officials of the Bureau of Reclamation that the first phase of the Navajo Indian irrigation project to bring water to the dry lands of the reservation will be completed by the spring of 1976. The members of this subcommittee, and especially the chairman, share the responsibility of seeing this dream finally become a reality. The members of this committee have increased the administration budget on this project. I know personally, every year I have been in Congress, and a review of the records (1) reveals such support each year since the project was signed into law by President Kennedy in 1962. Without your support this project would not have been possible. The administration this year is requesting $17.2 million for construction on the project itself, $4,875,000 for roads in the project area and $1 million for the design and construction of the irrigation building. These sums represent the exact amount sought by the tribe and the Bureau of Reclamation. We fully support these administration requests. However, with the expenditure of some $88 million to bring the needed water to the first portion of the land, it is now necessary that funds be obtained for development of the land to bring it into production and provide job opportunities for several thousand Navajo people. I would like to submit for the record a resolution of the Navajo Tribal Council requesting the Congress fund account 1830, the soil and water conservation account of the Bureau of Indian Affairs with $3,405,000 specifically to assist the Navajo Tribe in preparation of the land and the purchase of the needed materials to establish the first crop. The BIA has funded farm development costs before. In fact, in this year's BIA budget request there is provision for funds for the Duckvalley, Nevada project which includes the establishment of the first crop. In prior years, similar funds were provided for projects at San Carlos, Fort Peck, Hogback and several others. BIA has also expressed the opinion that the Navajo Tribe, because of their present financial condition, will need assistance as they have been expending more than their annual income for several years now. This is one of the main purposes of the Navajo irrigation project, to provide additional income for the tribe, in addition to providing jobs for thousands of unemployed Navajo citizens. I would like to add that the tribe advises me they have spent more than $6 million of their own money to prepare for the time when the water will be available to the new farmland. The sum requested is a figure reached after the Navajo Agriculture Products Industry, with the assistance of the BIA and New Mexico State University, completed a plan to develop and operate the first block of 10,000 acres of the project. Two million dollars of this request will be used for the installation of a sprinkler irrigation system. I am advised by Jim O'Brien, the Assistant Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, that Bureau officials are 100 percent behind the installation of such a sprinkler system as it would greatly reduce salinity problems, result in a considerable water savings, cost less to operate in the long run, provide an easier method of raising crops, and provide a higher crop return. In addition, the funds would be used for clearing the land of unwanted vegetation, leveling the land, relocating gas and oil pipelines which will interfere with farming operations, fence the farm area to separate the crops from range livestock, procure seed, fertilizer and other expense necessary to plant, care for and establish the first crop. LAGUNA PUEBLO JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Another funding request that I would like to testify in support of today relates to the construction of a new junior high school by the Bureau of Indian Affairs for the Laguna Pueblo. When the need for this facility was brought to the attention of the committee In 1972, funds were appropriated for the planning and design of this urgently needed education facility. The planning phase has been completed and the design phase of the project is underway. The Bureau of Indian Affairs has informed Pueblo officials that construction of the new school could begin in fiscal year 1975 if construction funds were available at that time. However, the administration's budget request contained no funds. Delay would mean the school will not be ready until the 1976-77 school year at the earliest. The immediate completion of this project is needed to relieve congestion in the present education facilities. I would like to submit for the record a copy of a letter dated March 8, 1974 from Robert Dudley of the Albuquerque BIA office to Pueblo officials which estimates the current construction cost at $2,500,000 based on bids expected from contractors in fiscal year. 1975. I call particular attention to the remark that should bidding commence at a later date this figure would probably have to be revised upward. I have been asked by the officials of the Pueblo of Laguna to submit their written statement for the record. I would like to do so at this time madam Chairman. RAMAH NAVAJO SCHOOL The third matter I would like to discuss with you regards the efforts of the Ramah, N. Mex. Navajo school board. In 1970, the Ramah Navajo community, located in one of the more remote areas of the reservation, took over the operation of their own education system. They have provided an education program for grades 7 through 12 for 3 years. In the next 2 years, they plan to assume the responsibility for all grades, kindergarden through 12th. In 1972, the BIA proposed the construction of a $16 million school facility. However, only $2.7 million has been requested in the budget to date. Having reevaluated their original proposals, the Ramah school board feels that an $8.3 million school facility would meet their requirements for several years. The $2.7 million provided by the committee last year will allow the completion of classrooms and gymnasium for a total of 553 students. This will be completed in December. However, because of the remote location of this school facility, there is an urgent need to build dormitories, cafeteria, staff housing, library, and an administration building. The Ramah school board is requesting the committee to provide the second $2.7 million to begin the second phase of the project in November. It will be the intention of the Ramah school board to seek the remaining funds required to totally complete the project in future budget requests. I would like to submit for the record the statement of the Ramah Navajo school board. Madam Chairman, I appreciate the opportunity to appear before you today and discuss the requests of the tribal officials of three Indian communities that I have the honor to represent in Congress. I will appreciate your consideration of these problems. Mr. RUNNELS. I will briefly give you a rundown of what we are asking for this morning. First is the Navajo irrigation project. Of course the administration request is for $17.2 million for the construction, and $4.875 million for roads in the project area, and $1 million for an irrigation building. What we are seeking here this morning is an addition to the BIA soil and water conservation program of $3,405,000 for assistance in the first crop. This is broken down $858,000 for the sprinkler pipe and installation, $1,232,000 for the sprinklers, $520,000 for the first crop expenses, and $794,000 for fencing, administration, equipment, and so forth. Both the Bureau of Reclamation and BIA support the sprinkler system. The reason for this is that it will cut the salinity of the water by one-half, by using a sprinkler system rather than row crop irrigation. The sprinkler system will also result in a considerable water saving. It costs less to operate in the long run, and provides an easier method of raising the crops, and provides a larger crop return. Also, Madam Chairman, I would like to enter into the record the resolutions by the Navajo Tribe Council, BIA, and all of these resolutions passed by the different councils. |