FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 3, 2005
NAVAJO NATION FIRST LADY VIKKI SHIRLEY JOINS N.M. MADD DELEGATION TO SEEK SUPPORT FOR CRIME VICTIMS, UNDERAGE DRINKING LEGISLATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. Navajo Nation First Lady Vikki Shirley joined a delegation of eight New Mexico mothers to ask U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici and Congresswoman Heather Wilson to join the long list of co-sponsors of legislation that would re-authorize the federal Victims of Crimes Act and to enact the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act.
The First Lady, who is Navajo Nation MADD Chapter Coordinator, was among more than 600 people who came here this week to attend the 25th annual Mothers Against Drunk Driving conference. The New Mexico MADD dele-gation met with the senior Senator and Congresswoman from New Mexico in their offices here on Thurs-day. They also joined hundreds at a rally on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.
The Victims of Crimes Act VOCA provides critical funding to help millions of victims of all types of crimes every year nationwide. It is the only federal grant program that supports direct assistance services, including those of domestic violence on the Navajo Nation.
It is used for victims of drunk driving, domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, robbery and survivors of homicide victims.
³The funds support victims of drunk drivers,² Mrs. Shirley said. ³That is something we really need. Not only does it help the DUI issue but also victims of domestic violence. It¹s something that I sincerely hope our legislators will consider. Those are funds that are really needed by the shelters.²
However, the Bush Administration¹s proposed FY 2006 budget would wipe out VOCA funds that support future federal, state and local victims services by removing $1.2 billion from the Crime Victims Fund, said Terry Huertaz, N.M.
MADD State Executive Director. That money comes entirely from federal criminal fines, forfeitures and special assessments. Since the fund began in 1984, money deposited in it in during one year is distributed the next.
Rescinding VOCA funds means there will be no money available to support victim services, she said.
³We want to protect that funding,² said Ms. Huertaz said. ³VOCA is money that¹s generated from criminals. It¹s not tax money. Either it stays with victims or it doesn¹t, and we really need it to stay with victims. There¹s not a lot of money out there. We really rely on VOCA.²
Sen. Domenici told the group he supported MADD¹S initiatives and would help.
³MADD¹s terrific,² he said. ³You have to keep doing it with volunteers. We can¹t let people say they¹re breaking the budget because this is too good.²
President Shirley, who joined the group for their visit to Sen. Domenici, also told the Senator that his family is a strong supporter of the organization.
³As President of the Navajo Nation, my wife and I are 110 percent in favor of MADD,² he said.
Congresswoman Wilson also said she would lend her support.
The Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act S.T.O.P, or S. 408 would require federal coordination and annual reporting to Congress on underage drinking, authorize a national media campaign to combat it, provide additional resources to prevent it and expand research on its effects on adolescent brain development.
Sen. Domenici¹s staff Christopher Collins said the group could count on the Senator co-sponsoring both pieces of legislation.
Ronda Jackson, one of the women in the group whose husband was severely injured and almost killed by a drunk driver, told the Senator¹s staff that his medical bills have now reached almost $1 million for more than 20 operations and care over the years. However, the law allows for victims to receive a maximum of $20,000, which is far from adequate.
³It took two years to rebuild his jaw,² she said. ³We lost our business, we lost everything.²
Ms. Huertaz said alcohol is the number one drug of choice among teens, and underage drinking is the leading cause of death in New Mexico. While millions of dollars go to treatment of the problem, prevention remains the most cost-effective way of dealing with it while being the most under-funded, she said.
Another MADD initiative is to have President Bush appoint a presidential council on underage drinking.
Beginning Aug. 1, MADD has offered around the clock emotional support, guidance and referrals to victims and survivors of drunk driving, as well as friends and families through a toll-free helpline.
If you are a victim of drunk driving in need of assistance, please call MADD¹s toll-free help line at 1-877-MADD-HELP to speak with a counselor who is ready to help you.
# # #
ADDITIONAL SOURCE
Terry Huertaz, MADD 505-255-2955, 800-522-6233, maddnm@aol.com <mailto:maddnm@aol.com>
CONTACT
George Hardeen, Communications Director
Office of the President and Vice President The Navajo Nation
Ofc: 928-871-7917
Cell: 928-309-8532
georgehardeen@opvp.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
oct. 3, 2005
NAVAJO NATION FIRST LADY VIKKI SHIRLEY JOINS N.M. DELEGATION TO SEEK SUPPORT FOR CRIME VICTIMS, UNDERAGE DRINKING LEGISLATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Navajo Nation First Lady Vikki Shirley joined a delegation of eight New Mexico mothers to ask U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici and Congresswoman Heather Wilson to join the long list of co-sponsors of legislation that would re- authorize the federal Victims of Crimes Act and to enact the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act.
The First Lady, who is Navajo Nation MADD Chapter Coordinator, was among more than 600 people who came here this week to attend the 25th annual Mothers Against Drunk Driving conference. The New Mexico MADD dele-gation met with the senior Senator and Congresswoman from New Mexico in their offices here on Thurs-day. They also joined hundreds at a rally on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.
The Victims of Crimes Act – VOCA – provides critical funding to help millions of victims of all types of crimes every year nationwide. It is the only federal grant program that supports direct assistance services, including those of domestic violence on the Navajo Nation.
It is used for victims of drunk driving, domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, robbery and survivors of homicide victims.
“The funds support victims of drunk drivers,” Mrs. Shirley said. “That is something we really need. Not only does it help the DUI issue but also victims of domestic violence. It’s something that I sincerely hope our legislators will consider. Those are funds that are really needed by the shelters.”
However, the Bush Administration’s proposed FY 2006 budget would wipe out VOCA funds that support future federal, state and local victims services by removing $1.2 billion from the Crime Victims Fund, said Terry Huertaz, N.M.
MADD State Executive Director. That money comes entirely from federal criminal fines, forfeitures and special assessments. Since the fund began in 1984, money deposited in it in during one year is distributed the next. Rescinding VOCA funds means there will be no money available to support victim services, she said.
“We want to protect that funding,” said Ms. Huertaz said. “VOCA is money that’s generated from criminals. It’s not tax money. Either it stays with victims or it doesn’t, and we really need it to stay with victims. There’s not a lot of money out there. We really rely on VOCA.”
Sen. Domenici told the group he supported MADD’S initiatives and would help.
“MADD’s terrific,” he said. “You have to keep doing it with volunteers. We can’t let people say they’re breaking the budget because this is too good.”
President Shirley, who joined the group for their visit to Sen. Domenici, also told the Senator that his family is a strong supporter of the organization.
“As President of the Navajo Nation, my wife and I are 110 percent in favor of MADD,” he said.
Congresswoman Wilson also said she would lend her support.
The Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act – S.T.O.P, or S. 408 – would require federal coordination and annual reporting to Congress on underage drinking, authorize a national media campaign to combat it, provide additional resources to prevent it and expand research on its effects on adolescent brain development.
Sen. Domenici’s staff Christopher Collins said the group could count on the Senator co-sponsoring both pieces of legislation.
Ronda Jackson, one of the women in the group whose husband was severely injured and almost killed by a drunk driver, told the Senator’s staff that his medical bills have now reached almost $1 million for more than 20 operations and care over the years. However, the law allows for victims to receive a maximum of $20,000, which is far from adequate.
“It took two years to rebuild his jaw,” she said. “We lost our business, we lost everything.”
Ms. Huertaz said alcohol is the number one drug of choice among teens, and underage drinking is the leading cause of death in New Mexico. While millions of dollars go to treatment of the problem, prevention remains the most cost-effective way of dealing with it while being the most under-funded, she said.
Another MADD initiative is to have President Bush appoint a presidential council on underage drinking.
Beginning Aug. 1, MADD has offered around the clock emotional support, guidance and referrals to victims and survivors of drunk driving, as well as friends and families through a toll-free helpline.
If you are a victim of drunk driving in need of assistance, please call MADD’s toll- free help line at 1-877-MADD-HELP to speak with a counselor who is ready to help you.
# # #
ADDITIONAL SOURCE
Terry Huertaz, MADD 505-255-2955, 800-522-6233, maddnm@aol.com
HI-RES PHOTOS AVAILABLE
CONTACT
George Hardeen, Communications Director
928-871-7917
georgehardeen@opvp.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 1, 2005
NAVAJO NATION PRESIDENT JOE SHIRLEY, JR., JOINS FORCES WITH LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS
Speaks at press conference on need to respect Navajo sovereignty
WASHINGTON, D.C. The Navajo Nation has gained an unexpected ally in the League of United Latin American Citizens, which invited Navajo President Joe Shirley, Jr., to join its national president on the podium during a press conference here Thursday.
Hector Flores, national president of the 76-year-old LULAC, introduced the President as a brother and relative of the Hispanic people. He said it was important to form a coalition with the Navajo Nation.
³This nation is a nation-within-a-nation,² Mr. Flores said in his introduction. ³They have sovereignty because they were here before anybody.²
LULAC is this nation¹s oldest and largest Hispanic membership organization.
Established in 1929, it has a history of commitment to the education of Hispanics and other minorities.
President Shirley was invited to speak at the press conference held during LULAC¹s Washington Youth Leadership Seminar here this week.
The seminar is a three-day program that brings student leaders from across the United States and Puerto Rico to Washington, D.C., to work on public policy issues and meet with national leaders from Congress, Corporate America and other institutions.
Some 53 students participated in this year¹s seminar and met President Shirley. He spoke to them about the Diné Natural Resources Protection Act, which prohibits any further uranium mining or processing within the Navajo Nation. The Nation passed the law to protect its people from more disease and to protect its land and water from being further contaminated through mining, processing, radioactive wastes or accidents.
³As a sovereign nation, we passed (this law),² the President said. ³Because of mining of uranium on Navajoland, many of our youth and elders have been killed. Many are still ill today because there are no answers to the cancers it causes.²
Despite the new law, adopted by the Navajo Nation Council on April 19 and signed by President Shirley on April 29 in Crownpoint, N.M., two companies are seeking to resume uranium mining on Navajo land. They are Hydro Resources, Inc., and Strathmore Minerals, Inc.
³It seems (the mining companies) do not care about our youth, our land and our water,² the President said. ³That¹s why we¹re reaching out. That¹s why we appreciate LULAC.²
To ensure that does not happen, two weeks ago, President Shirley, Council Delegate Alice Benally and representatives from the Eastern Navajo Diné Against Uranium Mining and the Southwest Research and Information Center of Albuquerque visited more than two dozen Senate and Congressional offices to ask that Navajo sovereignty be acknowledged and respected.
Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz., who hosted a congressional briefing with Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M. and Reps. Dick Matheson, D-Utah, at the time, said he respects the Navajo sovereignty.
³I support the Navajo Nation¹s Resolution banning uranium mining on Navajo land and the Diné people¹s sovereign right to enforce this ban,² Renzi said in a recent press release. ³I will continue to work to eliminate any mining that could potentially contaminate sources of Navajo water. We must work to stop the threat of uranium exposure before it infects our future generations.²
# # #
HI RES PHOTOS AVAILABLE
ADDITIONAL SOURCE
League of United Latin American Citizens : http://www.lulac.org/ Brent Wilkes, Executive Director, 202-833-6130 2000 L Street, NW, Suite 610 Washington, DC 20036
CONTACT
George Hardeen, Communications Director
Office of the President and Vice President The Navajo Nation
Ofc: 928-871-7917
Cell: 928-309-8532
georgehardeen@opvp.org