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Letter to the Editor,

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I am writing to your newspaper to publicly express my appreciation for President Joe Biden’s “policy of empathy” towards Navajos. The 2020 CARES Act provided relief from hardship during the Covid-19 public health crisis. The American Rescue Plan Act provided $1.8 billion to the Navajo Nation. The funding was unbelievable!

Our congressional delegations to Washington deserve a lot of credit as well. Their understanding of our communities’ needs helped get the funding. Navajos and non-Navajos are sharing the money. And it is greatly appreciated.

I am also thankful to the President and our Secretary of Interior Debra Haaland for restoring key provisions of the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), during reviews of projects.

NEPA was scaled back by former President Trump, to fast-track project with false promises of jobs, etc. Surely one remembers the Standing Rock Protest, which was against the crippling of NEPA, really, the crippling of the rule of law.

I am for stricter environmental review, but now I am asking the President to stay on course and eliminate the Trump-rule maintained by the Supreme Court that curtails Indian Tribes right to review, approval and oversight of projects.

Still, the bottom line is that our laws require an informed consent by the local community affected. Please restaore the people’s oversight. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Albert Shirley
Iyanbito, N.M.