To repeal section 10(f) of Public Law 93-531, commonly known as the "Bennett Freeze".

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 39) to repeal section 10(f) of Public Law 93-531, commonly known as the ``Bennett Freeze''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the pending legislation would settle a longstanding dilemma faced by the people of the Navajo and Hopi Nations in Arizona. At the outset, I would commend our colleague from Arizona (Mrs. Kirkpatrick) for her tenacity in working to have this measure considered by the House, and hopefully by the end of the day, passed and sent to the President for his signature.

The need for this legislation dates back to an executive order issued in 1882 which set aside land in northern Arizona for the Hopi Tribe and such other Indians as the Secretary of the Interior may see fit to settle thereon. A 1934 act of Congress setting aside some of the same lands for the Navajo Nation further complicated the matter.

In 1962, a Federal District Court ruled that both the Hopi Tribe and the Navajo Nation had joint rights to use the land in dispute. This ruling created great tension between the two tribes over critical issues such as access to sacred sites and the development of lands in the joint use area. Because of this situation, in 1966 the Commissioner of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Robert Bennett, issued a freeze on any development on the disputed lands. This freeze extended to some of the core aspects of tribal life, including the building of homes, improvement to property, public works projects, power lines, and water and sewer access.

After nearly a century of dispute between the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe, the Navajo-Hopi Settlement Act was enacted in 1974 in an attempt to settle rights and interests between the two Native nations. However, in 1980, Congress amended that act to codify the Bennett Freeze. As a result of this freeze on development, tribal citizens living in the Bennett Freeze region find themselves living in 1966 conditions. Only 3 percent of these families affected by the Bennett Freeze have electricity and only 10 percent have running water.

In 2005, the Navajo and the Hopi governments entered into an intergovernmental agreement that resolved all outstanding issues regarding the land in dispute. This agreement contains language which puts an end to the ban on development on the disputed lands. The Secretary of the Interior approved this agreement in September 2006.

This legislation will clarify the law so that it is in agreement with all of the land users and finally close this longstanding dispute between neighboring Indian tribes.

I once again commend our colleague, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, who has a companion bill here in the House for her work in getting this bill to the floor today. The aforementioned conditions of those living in the Bennett Freeze area are unacceptable. The tribes have resolved their issues and the administration has fulfilled its duties, and now it is time for us to pass this legislation and fulfill our trust responsibility to these two native nations.

I urge all of my colleagues to support the passage of Senate bill 39.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as she may consume to the sponsor of the House companion measure to S. 39, the gentlewoman from Arizona (Mrs. Kirkpatrick).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time as well.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise to support this bipartisan legislation that was authored by Senator John McCain. This bill would end more than 40 years of Federal restrictions placed upon native people living in the western area of the Navajo Nation. These restrictions have barred area residents from making any improvements and repairs to their homes and property.

Once this legislation becomes law, both Navajo and Hopi people will have the opportunity to move forward with critical development projects aimed at providing relief to their region. This

means homes without electricity can now be wired, modern plumbing fixtures can be installed and recent health and safety improvements like smoke detectors and water filters can be realized.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation is identical to a bill that was introduced in the 110th Congress by Senator McCain. Unfortunately, we delayed consideration of this bill during the presidential election, for whatever reason. Hopefully, we are prepared to move ahead with this good public policy.

I am grateful that we are finally able to move forward this legislation that will help both the Navajo and Hopi people. I support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentlelady from Arizona's work on this particular issue. I appreciate Senator McCain's sponsorship of this particular bill. This is indeed a fresh approach that will produce positive benefits for the people in this particular State, and I appreciate it being brought to the floor by the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage all of my colleagues to support S. 39, the companion to H.R. 1762, which I introduced last month. This bill will repeal the law that has held back growth in my district for 40 years.

In 1966, Commissioner of Indian Affairs Robert Bennett chose to deal with a long-running land dispute between the Navajo and Hopi Nations by establishing a construction freeze on 1.5 million acres in my district. For four decades, no construction was allowed in the area. Families could not even do basic home repair or have electricity put in. There was no economic development, and there was no hope.

Now the Navajo and Hopi have come to an agreement, and in 2006 a judge lifted the Bennett Freeze. But that is not enough. We need to permanently remove the law that kept thousands of folks frozen in time.

Far too many families on tribal lands lack basic necessities. In the area of the freeze, only 10 percent of the people have running water, and even fewer have electricity. We are trying to fight a diabetes epidemic with folks who cannot keep the medication they need at home because they don't have a plug for a refrigerator. These families deserve to know that their government will not stop them from pulling themselves out of poverty.

I was proud to join Senator McCain in introducing this legislation. Senator McCain and I believe that Washington bureaucrats should never stand in the way of folks trying to improve their lives and develop their communities. That is something that I think that everyone in this House on both sides of the aisle can come together on.

I urge your support and encourage passage of this bill.