[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23837]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   ON THE INTRODUCTION OF ``THE NORTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO RURAL WATER 
                             PROJECTS ACT''

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, December 8, 2006

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce The 
Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act. This legislation, 
which was also introduced in the Senate by my colleague from New Mexico 
Senator Bingaman, will ratify the historic San Juan River Settlement 
Agreement. This agreement, signed by the Navajo Nation and the State of 
New Mexico, will provide for the development of a rural water system to 
address the water needs of numerous New Mexicans, many of them members 
of the Navajo Nation.
  The settlement agreement, once ratified, will resolve the Navajo 
Nation's water rights without litigation. It will also provide a water 
supply for Gallup, New Mexico, and recognize authorized and existing 
uses of San Juan River basin water. In exchange for relinquishing some 
of their claims to water from the San Juan River basin, the Navajo 
Nation will benefit from water development projects which include the 
Navajo-Gallup project and the Navajo Nation Municipal pipeline. The 
pipeline will convey water from the Animas-La Plata project from the 
city of Farmington, New Mexico, to numerous Navajo communities and the 
city of Shiprock.
  The Navajo Nation, the State of New Mexico and many other residents 
of northwestern New Mexico put a tremendous amount of work into 
reaching an agreement that will provide a more secure future for many 
vulnerable communities. I am proud to be able to contribute today to 
their efforts by introducing the House companion bill and starting it 
down the path of Congressional approval. I look forward to working with 
my colleagues to pass this legislation to move these important water 
projects forward.

                          ____________________