Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 114 Part 5.djvu/919

 PUBLIC LAW 106-568—DEC. 27, 2000 114 STAT. 2933 development and economic development programs under this title, and the feasibility of establishing Joint Funding Agreements to authorize tribes to access and coordinated funds and resources from various agencies for purposes of human resources development, physical infrastructure development, and economic development assistance in general. Such report shall identify programs or activities which might be integrated and make recommendations for the removal of any statutory or other barriers to such integration. TITLE XII—NAVAJO NATION TRUST Navajo Nation LAND LEASING wngX'of 2000. SEC. 1201. SHORT TITLE. 25 USC 415 note. This title may be cited as the ''Navajo Nation Trust Land Leasing Act of 2000". SEC. 1202. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF PUR- 25 USC 415 note. POSES. (a) FINDINGS.— Recognizing the special relationship between the United States and the Navajo Nation and its members, and the Federal responsibility to the Navajo people, Congress finds that— (1) the third clause of section 8, Article I of the United States Constitution provides that "The Congress shall have Power * * * to regulate Commerce * * * with Indian tribes", and, through this and other constitutional authority, Congress has plenary power over Indian affairs; (2) Congress, through statutes, treaties, and the general course of dealing with Indian tribes, has assumed the responsibility for the protection and preservation of Indian tribes and their resources; (3) the United States has a trust obligation to guard and preserve the sovereignty of Indian tribes in order to foster strong tribal governments, Indian self-determination, and economic self-sufficiency; (4) pursuant to the first section of the Act of August 9, 1955 (25 U.S.C. 415), Congress conferred upon the Secretary of the Interior the power to promulgate regulations governing tribal leases and to approve tribal leases for tribes according to regulations promulgated by the Secretary; (5) the Secretary of the Interior has promulgated the regulations described in paragraph (4) at part 162 of title 25, Code of Federal Regulations; (6) the requirement that the Secretary approve leases for the development of Navajo trust lands has added a level of review and regulation that does not apply to the development of non-Indian land; and (7) in the global economy of the 21st Century, it is crucial that individual leases of Navajo trust lands not be subject to Secretarial approval and that the Navajo Nation be able to make immediate decisions over the use of Navajo trust lands. (b) PURPOSES. —The purposes of this title are as follows: (1) To establish a streamlined process for the Navajo Nation to lease trust lands without having to obtain the approval of the Secretary of the Interior for individual leases, except

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