H.R. 8

1

HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING
2 CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT OF RED MESA
3 HEALTH CENTER
4 2001 GENERAL SESSION
5 STATE OF UTAH
6 Sponsor: Max W. Young
7 This resolution of the House of Representatives urges the United States Congress to
8 appropriate $48 million in construction funds as part of the Indian Health Services budget
9 for fiscal year 2002 for the Red Mesa Health Center and staff quarters in Red Mesa,
10 Arizona.
11 Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the state of Utah:
12 WHEREAS, since the mid-1980's the Navajo Nation and Indian Health Services have
13 planned the construction of the Red Mesa Health Center and staff quarters to improve access to
14 health care for the 10,000 people residing in southeast Utah and northeast Arizona;
15 WHEREAS, local land users donated 75 acres of land at Red Mesa, Arizona, for the
16 development of the Red Mesa Health Center and staff quarters;
17 WHEREAS, all of the necessary documents including legal surveys and environmental
18 clearances have been completed and the site has been legally withdrawn by the Navajo Nation for
19 the project;
20 WHEREAS, the United States Congress appropriated design funds in fiscal year 2000 for
21 the design of the Red Mesa Health Center;
22 WHEREAS, the Indian Health Services has hired an architectural firm and the project is
23 currently in design;
24 WHEREAS, a construction manager also has been hired to oversee the construction of the
25 project once it is designed and construction funds are appropriated;
26 WHEREAS, the Red Mesa Health Center, when completed, will provide adult and
27 pediatric medical services, diagnosis and laboratory services, short stay nursing beds, dental

28 physical therapy, and 24-hour emergency care;
29 WHEREAS, most of the services that would be provided by the Red Mesa Health Center
30 are currently unavailable in the proposed service area and the local people have to travel to
31 Shiprock, New Mexico, to receive these services;
32 WHEREAS, travel distance to Shiprock for the user population is an average of 60 miles;
33 WHEREAS, Indian Health Services planned the Red Mesa Health Center with 93 units of
34 staff quarters due to the remoteness of the site;
35 WHEREAS, housing availability is critical in the recruitment and retention of medical
36 doctors, nurses, and other health professionals on the Navajo Nation; and
37 WHEREAS, it is vital that the staff quarters be constructed at the same time as the health
38 center in order for the clinic to open with adequate staffing:
39 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the state
40 of Utah urges the United States Congress to appropriate $48 million in construction funds as part
41 of the Indian Health Services budget for fiscal year 2002 for the Red Mesa Health Center and staff
42 quarters at Red Mesa, Arizona.
43 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the President of the
44 United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members
45 of Utah's congressional delegation.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-13-01 5:53 PM

A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel