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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR:	Pinto		DATE TYPED:	02/12/03		HB
SHORT TITLE:		Native American Veterans’ Cemetery				SB	SJM 34
					ANALYST:		Chabot

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY03	FY04	FY03	FY04
	NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Response Received From

Office of Indian Affairs (OIA)

Response Not Received From

New Mexico Veterans’ Service Commission (VSC)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Joint Memorial 34 resolves to request the New Mexico Congressional Delegation to support legislation amending U.S.C. 2408 to include tribal governments in the distribution of grants from the federal State Cemetery Grants Program so that a national cemetery can be establish on the sacred lands of the Navajo Nation. Burial in the cemetery would be open to all veterans.

Significant Issues

Native Americans have served proudly in the armed forces including 16,000 Navajos. The only Veterans’ Cemetery in the Navajo Nation is filled to capacity. An additional cemetery needs to be established to honor Native American veterans.

OIA states this joint memorial endorses support of a cemetery in the four Sacred Mountains of the Navajo Nation and is an opportunity to honor the Navajo veterans who have courageously served the nation.

GAC/njw