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!