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House urges Congress to appoint new Navajo trust trustee and advances interim fiduciary bill
Summary
House passed Concurrent Resolution 4 urging Congress to appoint a new trustee for royalties from the Utah side of the Navajo Reservation and advanced HB352 (fiscal and governance clarifications for interim management), adopting an amendment extending scholarships through June 30, 2010; both measures passed the House and move to the Senate.
The Utah House on the floor took two linked actions related to royalties and fiduciary management for the Utah portion of the Navajo Reservation.
First, Representative David Clark introduced Concurrent Resolution 4, which asks Congress to remove the State of Utah as trustee and to appoint a new trustee or trustee group to administer the 37.5% share of oil and gas royalties that flow from lands on the Utah side of the Navajo Reservation. Clark said Utah was unique among states in being appointed by Congress to handle these fiduciary responsibilities and described consultations with Navajo Nation leaders, chapter houses and members of Congress. He said the resolution seeks to return authority and give the Navajo Nation a greater role in managing the funds.
Second, the House uncircled and took up House Bill 352, which Clark described as the third part of a three-leg package dealing with how Utah will manage trust funds during the interim period before Congress appoints a new trustee. Clark said HB352 clarifies membership and rotation for the Dine Committee chair, divides interim responsibilities among state entities, and requires an inventory of ongoing projects, including educational scholarships and capital projects. Representative Allen offered Amendment 3 (dated Feb. 18) to extend postsecondary scholarships through June 30, 2010, to avoid disrupting students if Congress delays action. After debate, the amendment passed and the House then passed HB352 as amended.
The recorded votes were unanimous: HCR4 passed 70–0 (5 absent) and HB352 as amended passed 71–0 (4 absent). Sponsors emphasized the state’s commitment to fulfill existing scholarship and project obligations during the interim and said the measures reflect sustained engagement with Navajo Nation stakeholders.
Representative Clark noted handouts available to members outlining how the Navajo Trust and the Navajo Revitalization Trust Fund interact and said the House expects to continue coordination with federal and tribal authorities as Congress considers a trustee change.
