[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 36 (Thursday, March 6, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E380]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF THE INDIAN SCHOOL BUS ROUTE SAFETY REAUTHORIZATION ACT 
                                OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 5, 2003

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to 
rise to introduce companion legislation to a bill being introduced by 
Senator Jeff Bingaman in the Senate today. I am extremely pleased to be 
joined in introducing this legislation, the Indian School Bus Route 
Safety Reauthorization Act of 2003, by Congressman Jim Matheson of Utah 
and Congressman Rick Renzi of Arizona, both of whom represent portions 
of the Navajo Nation in their Congressional districts.
  This legislation is of great importance to our three states-- 
specifically to the children and residents of the Navajo Nation, and 
the counties into which the Navajo Nation's boundaries extend. In New 
Mexico these counties are McKinley and San Juan Counties, and prior to 
1998 they were responsible for maintaining the roads used by county 
school buses that stretch into the reservation to transport the 
children of the Navajo Nation to and from the county schools. Although 
there is nothing unique about counties funding and maintaining the 
roads in their jurisdiction, this particular case of the counties being 
responsible for the upkeep of the roads that ran into the Navajo Nation 
was extremely rare, and seems to be the only situation of this kind 
throughout the United States. This put an enormous burden on McKinley 
and San Juan County officials, and oftentimes resulted in impassable 
roads, which, in turn, resulted in children missing school because the 
buses were unable to pick them up.
  In 1998, however, Senator Bingaman was successful in acquiring funds 
through the Indian School Bus Route Safety Act for the counties in New 
Mexico, Utah, and Arizona to assist them in facing this particularly 
burdensome responsibility. Today, we are proud to introduce the 
reauthorization of this legislation, which is set to expire very soon, 
to provide further assistance to the counties and children of the 
Navajo Nation. This bill authorizes funds totaling $24 million for 
Fiscal Years 2004 through 2009 to be split equally among New Mexico, 
Utah, and Arizona. The breakdown of the total amount of funding is $3 
million each year for FY2004 and 2005, $4 million each year for FY2006 
and 2007, and $5 million each year for FY2008 and 2009.
  These critical funds will provide much-needed assistance to the 
counties, and will help put an end to the shameful situation of 
children missing school simply because of impassable roads due to lack 
of maintenance. I am extremely hopeful that we can either pass this 
measure, or include it as part of the TEA-21 reauthorization bill and 
provide further assistance to the children of the Navajo Nation and our 
respective states. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

                          ____________________