Description

Yá’át’ééh! Over the past year, my team and Navajo Nation employees have worked hard to push forward the Navajo People's initiatives.

Housing

• $128M planned for housing, 300 homes closer to 1,000-home goal
• $97.2M planned under Indian Housing Plan for 30 projects in '25
• Chapters supporting renovations and help for unhoused

Veterans

• $31.7M for 95 veteran homes, 29 complete or under construction
• Opened Chinle Veterans Clinic, planning Tuba City
• Testified before Congress for better veteran healthcare
• Key-turning ceremony for Code Talker John Kinsel

Infrastructure

• 550 homes connected to electricity, 1,799 more planned with NTUA, ARPA, Light Up Navajo
• 320+ cistern and waterline connections, 100+ bathrooms added, 272 in-progress
• Approved waterlines, broke ground on $20M Tohajiilee-ABQ waterline

Water Rights

• Testified before Congress on 4 bills totaling $5B in water rights settlements

Community

• $4.8M for Cameron Chapter House, $7.7M for St. Michaels renovations, 2 chapters developing
• Broke ground on public building in Crownpoint

Education

• $30.2M in scholarships to 5,517 students
• NTU growth, renewing Diné Higher Education Grant Fund
• Funding for Navajo Prep dorm, supported graduation regalia rights

Healthcare

• $177M Sage Memorial Hospital opens
• Broke ground on $200M+ Echo Cliffs Healthcare Center
• Finalized site for new Gallup Indian Medical Center
• $8.1M for Chinle Airstrip
• MOUs with University of Arizona and Johns Hopkins research, health initiatives

Elders

• Invested in senior centers: Tuba City, Tselani/Cottonwood, Mexican Springs, Ganado, Smith Lake, Thoreau
• Applied for $54.2M grant for Chinle Warriors Nursing Home
• ADA projects at Dean C. Jackson Arena

Agriculture

• Wool/mohair purchasing event with $0.70/lb incentive
• Hired large animal vet, UA MOU for training
• $1.1M for new hatchery project, reinstated equine reward program
• USDA opening WR office to streamline services

Economic Development

• Lease for $700M Horseshoe Bend Development
• $7M for small businesses, $87M over 10 years via SSBCI
• $8M+ in Artisan & Small Business Relief Fund grants
• Acquired Goulding's Lodge
• NavajoPoly to support 1,250 construction, 550 full-time jobs

Roads

• $18.8M road project in Dennehotso, 670 tons of gravel for N8095 in Chinle
• US 64 $81M investment through 2028 with grants
• $26M Hwy 264 from Gallup to Window Rock via NM
• $52.7M authorized by Navajo DOT, $150M goal in FY'25
• MOU with Sandoval County for roads, services, library

Public Safety

• $16.8M Shiprock Incident Command Center groundbreaking
• Modular facilities in Ft. Defiance pending inspection
• 7+ contracts awarded for domestic violence services, shelters
• Response to Shiprock floods, clearing clogged culverts with BIA

Employment

• Streamlined hiring process with online application
• Chinle MOU with Dept. of Self Reliance for 22 subsidized hires
• Preserved 105 ARPA-funded positions, renewed UMWA agreement
• Partnering to fill CDL positions at NDOT

Uranium

• Marched for RECA Amendments, strengthened Radiation Materials Transportation Act
• MOU with Dept. of Energy on orphan wells, protested illegal uranium transport
• Protections from mining near Grand Canyon advocacy

Children and Families

• $24.2M for playground upgrades at 16 childcare centers
• Opened Crownpoint Youth Complex, Chinle Youth Facility expected
• $2.2M for youth employment, settled 4-H youth obligation
• MOU to expedite enrollment for Navajo children in state custody

Outlook

• Joining CA carbon offset program, healthy Navajo forests
• Next year's update on forest earnings for fighting climate change
• Creating Operation Diné School Safety website hub

Broadband

• 4 new broadband towers, RFP for 78 more and fixed wireless access for homes
• Drafted Telecommunications and Broadband Regulations, Reestablishing Commission

• Installed LTE/5G radios and E-Rate fiber, completed fiber for 300 Ramah Navajo families

These are just a few of our completed or ongoing projects. Tune in to my weekly radio address for more updates from my administration.

Ahéhee', and tune in next Thursday!