WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Stansbury (NM-01), a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, cited Sandia Pueblo and Mescalero Apache Tribes as an example of tribal nations that are “economic powerhouses” in New Mexico and across the country. Rep. Stansbury participated in the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs hearing, where she asked tribal witnesses to outline their priorities for Congress to support economic development in Indian Country.
The 23 federally recognized tribes and Pueblos in New Mexico generate over $600 million in revenue annually and employ over 11,000 New Mexicans. In addition to helping drive state and local economies, tribally run enterprises serve as major revenue sources for tribes and Pueblos to administer social services, build critical infrastructure, and provide resources for their communities.
Rep. Stansbury began by highlighting the economic contributions of Sandia Pueblo and Mescalero Apache Nation. “Sandia Pueblo, which is just north of Albuquerque, which is my hometown, employs thousands of residents living in the Albuquerque area and has quite a diversified economic portfolio,” said Stansbury. “And Mescalero Apache operates an amazing set of enterprises around the hospitality and ski businesses, as well as a number of other major enterprises in southern New Mexico.”
Rep. Stansbury cited progress in the 117th Congress to support tribal economic development through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, but noted Congress must take further action to support tribal economies. “I was struck by the number of barriers that still obviously are presented to so many of our tribal nations in terms of self-determination and nation-building that extend far beyond even the conversation that we’ve had here today,” said Stansbury.
Rep. Stansbury concluded by asking the panel of witnesses, representing tribal nations from across the country, for their recommendations on further congressional action. “If there was one thing that you could do in Congress that you personally think would have a major impact on economic development in your communities, or across our tribal nations, what would it be?”
“The Buy Indian Act,” replied Chairman Dustin Klatush of the Confederated Tribes of Chehalis Reservation.
“Dual taxation,” said Chairman Joseph Rupnick of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. “… allowing Nations more tools in their toolbox to be able to use the lands as they best see fit.”
“Additional funding for resources for technical assistance and providing education and really looking at the different ways of the bureaucracy such as BIA and just the process in itself to try to streamline those time frames,” said Vice Chairwoman Wavalene Saunders of the Tohono O’odham Nation.
“Continuing to promote self-governance and tribal sovereignty by allowing tribes to manage their lands and resources according to tribal laws and regulations and tribal policies to meet tribal goals and objectives,” said Jason Robison, Land and Resources Officer of the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians.
Rep. Stansbury’s full remarks in addition to witness responses:
“I want to welcome all of our tribal leaders who are here, not only on the panel, but in the audience and also tuning in today. Thank you for traveling. And thank you for being here with us today.
I’m Melanie Stansbury, and I represent New Mexico’s First Congressional District, which is proudly home to a number of tribes and Pueblos in New Mexico. New Mexico, of course, is home to 23 federally recognized tribes and Pueblos.
And the first thing that I want to just acknowledge is that while we’re here to talk about economic development opportunities, our tribes and Pueblos are already economic powerhouses in New Mexico and are in fact, among some of the largest employers and generators of income in the state.
In fact, amongst our tribes and Pueblos, 19 of our 19 Pueblos generate over half a billion dollars in revenue alone every year in our state and employ over 11,000 people statewide.
These enterprises are vital not only to our tribal communities, but also to our local and regional and state economies. And are primary sources of funding for tribal governments, as our tribal leaders know here, to fund vital services, including emergency services, roads, elder support, and so much more.
I also want to just take a moment to highlight a couple of the Pueblos and tribes that are in our district in the First Congressional District, in particular, Sandia Pueblo, which is just north of Albuquerque, which is my hometown, employs thousands of residents living in the Albuquerque area and has quite a diversified economic portfolio.
And Mescalero Apache in the southern portion of my district operates an amazing set of enterprises around the hospitality and ski businesses, as well as another – a number of other major enterprises in southern New Mexico.
But as I was listening to the testimony this morning, and also reading your testimony, I was struck by the number of barriers that still obviously are presented to so many of our tribal nations in terms of self-determination and nation-building that extend far beyond even the conversation that we’ve had here today.
And so Madam Chairwoman, while we have made a number of huge, huge steps forward in passing the bipartisan infrastructure law, which made massive investments, hundreds of millions of dollars of investments that have not yet hit many of our communities, in terms of roads, water, broadband, and as well as the Inflation Reduction Act, which will bring a lot of money for energy, infrastructure, water infrastructure.
And we know that Secretary Deb Haaland and our President have made a strong commitment to tribal consultation, nation building and economic investment. I was particularly struck by Chairwoman Saunders’s testimony about the many and multivariate barriers, whether it’s infrastructure, broadband, all of these things.
So, I want to just do a quick lightning round for all of our panelists, because we do have limited time. You know, you’ve presented testimony to us today, and I’m going to put you each on the spot.
You know, this is the opportunity to present to all of us and to the country. If there was one thing that you could do in Congress that you personally think would have a major impact on economic development in your communities, or across our tribal nations, what would it be? And I’ll start with Mr. Klatush.
Chairman Klatush: The Buy Indian Act.
Rep. Stansbury: Mr. Rupnik?
Chairman Rupnik: There’s a couple of things, you know, one of them is dual taxation. I know that that that isn’t a area for this committee here too. But yeah, restricted fee, allowing Nations more, more tools in their toolbox to be able to use the lands as they best see fit.
Rep. Stansbury: Thank you. Vice Chairwoman?
Vice Chairwoman Saunders: I would say the additional funding for resources for technical assistance and providing education and really looking at the different ways of the bureaucracy such as BIA and just the process in itself to try to streamline those time frames and the processes in itself for the benefit of all.
Rep: Stansbury: Thank you, and Mr. Robison?
Mr. Robison: Great, thanks for the question. I really think continuing to promote self-governance and tribal sovereignty by allowing tribes to manage their lands and resources according to tribal laws and regulations and tribal policies to meet tribal goals and objectives.
Rep. Stansbury: All right, well, I’m amazed that we got through everyone. Obviously, this is just the first chapter of hopefully many conversations about hopefully bipartisan legislation we could advance to help support our tribal nations, so we appreciate you being here today and thank you Madam Chairwoman.”
