E1672 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks August 1, 2008 Eastside initiated in the early hours of the alongside LeBron James as the nation’s top Aamodt and Abeyta settlements. Introduction flood recovery, said Thursday that the group recruits, but so far advanced was his game of this bill represents a major milestone in the is averaging 550 meal deliveries each day. that he spent that summer traveling to tryouts completion of these important settlements. The article continues: with a number of NBA teams. He was drafted Years of work and negotiation have gone into The Muncie group offered more than just in the first round of the NBA Draft with the each of these, and I am pleased that the helping hands. 27th overall pick by the and tribes, villages, cities, counties, acequias, and The Rotarians who arrived on the first immediately traded to the , one community groups involved were able to come Saturday and immediately were sent to dev- of the most successful franchises in all sports. to an agreement that is mutually beneficial. astated areas with prepared meals were wel- comed warmly but also given guidance for Kendrick played a support role as the New Mexico is a state rich with tradition and future visits. team’s ‘‘enforcer’’ during his first few years in culture, where the water resources are scarce ‘‘If people didn’t want the lunches, they the league, earning a reputation as one of the and precious. As is common in most of the definitely wanted the water,’’ Celeste said. tougher players on the team. He would even- arid west, this vital but limited commodity can ‘‘That need was discovered on their first trip. tually work his way up the depth chart to start- foster conflict between communities and indi- On the next trip the Muncie group brought ing . In 2007, the team made a number viduals, and in a state where the history is down 40 cases of water, four coolers and end- of off-season moves that would leave the Celt- long and complex, disputes over water are less bags of ice so that we could hand out ics as the favorite to win the title. The team equally complicated. But, despite the com- cold bottled water along with the meals.’’ had the best record in the league during the plications surrounding water tenure, New While the Muncie group was in Columbus, one of its members struck up a conversation regular season and had home court advan- Mexicans are united in a common respect for with Lenore Hollowell about additional tage throughout the playoffs. this resource. From the pueblos and tribes of sources of food. The playoffs were more difficult than they New Mexico, to the historic acequias and Gleaner’s Food Bank in Indianapolis was would have hoped. Their first two series both growing communities, water is fundamental to mentioned and within the space of hours, e- went to seven games but they were able to both survival and cultural traditions, and is re- mails were being traded back and forth set- pull through. Kendrick and the Celtics beat spected as such. Both the Aamodt and Abeyta ting up the delivery of a week’s supplies. former prep-rival LeBron James and his settlements are examples of communities and ‘‘The delivery ran the gamut from eight in the Eastern Con- tribes coming together to resolve their dif- cases of yams to two cases of mop handles ference Finals to bring the Celtics to their first ferences and find a way to ensure that every- . . . from three cases of chocolate chip cook- ies to four pallets of bottled water . . . there NBA Finals appearance since the 1985–86 one has access to this precious and respected were even 1,200 prepared meals from Federal season. Their opponents were the Los Ange- resource. Emergency Management Agency.’’ les Lakers, facing each other in the Finals for The bill being introduced today consists of two titles, the first outlining the Aamodt Settle- The Noon Rotary Club of Muncie will likely a record 11th time. There was genuine buzz ment, and the second outlining the Abeyta make their final visit to Columbus on August 2. and excitement around the NBA for the first Settlement. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to this time in recent memory and Kendrick would The Aamodt title resolves the water claims dedicated group of volunteers who went out of have a chance to shine. of the Pueblos of Nambe, Pojoaque, San their way to help Hoosiers in need. The first few games saw the Celtics domi- nate the series at home. The Lakers were Ildefonso, and Tesuque, and the needs of the f able to win one when they returned to their surrounding communities in Santa Fe County. KENDRICK PERKINS home court and had a chance to win Game 4 The settlement is a result of long negotiations before the Celtics made the biggest comeback between the county and pueblos, and will re- in NBA Finals history to win the game. Perkins sult in the development of a mutually bene- HON. TED POE injured his shoulder and sat out Game 5. He ficial water infrastructure system. This system OF TEXAS was doubtful for Game 6 but showed the will ensure that the pueblos and surrounding IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES toughness that has come to define him and communities have access to clean running Thursday, July 31, 2008 played through the pain to help the Celtics win water into the future. I applaud the efforts and their 17th overall championship. Perkins aver- success of these groups in coming to an Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, today I am aged 6 points and 6 rebounds to lead his agreement that both settles disputes and ben- proud to pay tribute to Kendrick Perkins, the team to the 2007–08 NBA Championship. efits each community. former standout at Clifton J. Ozen On behalf of the Second Congressional Dis- The Abeyta title establishes the water High school and the starting Center for the trict of Texas, I applaud Kendrick Perkins on claims of the Pueblo of Taos, the Taos Valley 2007–2008 NBA Champion Boston Celtics. his outstanding achievements. He has been Acequia Association, the Village of El Prado, Kendrick was born in Nederland, Texas, in successful on and off the court, and I applaud and the Town of Taos. These communities de- 1984. According to his grandmother, he his dedication to his community and to his pend heavily on agriculture and irrigation for played football and baseball as a young boy team. both traditional practices and subsistence. The but would fall asleep at night holding a basket- And that’s just the way it is. settlement ensures water for both agricultural ball. He attended Our Mother of Mercy Catho- f and domestic use, and facilitates the rehabili- lic School throughout elementary school and tation of irrigation infrastructure. Additionally, was one of the tallest altar boys they have INTRODUCTION OF A BILL TO AU- the Abeyta settlement helps to protect the ever seen. So tall, in fact, that they had to THORIZE THE SECRETARY OF quality of water in the watershed by protecting have a robe specially made for him. He con- THE INTERIOR, ACTING and recharging the wetlands areas of the Taos tinued to serve the church until his high school THROUGH THE COMMISSIONER Pueblo’s buffalo pasture. After years of nego- graduation, even while scouts and agents OF RECLAMATION, TO DEVELOP tiation, the parties involved in this important were vying for his services. WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IN settlement have come to an agreement based Perkins attended Ozen High School in THE RIO GRANDE BASIN, AND TO on respect of cultural practices, and a commit- Beaumont, Texas and left quite a legacy on APPROVE THE SETTLEMENT OF ment to live as good neighbors sharing a com- the basketball court. He led the team to three THE WATER RIGHTS CLAIMS OF mon resource. Class 4A Sate Championship games in three THE PUEBLOS OF NAMBE, It has been said that the wars of the future years, winning the title as a sophomore in POJOAQUE, SAN ILDEFONSO, will be fought over access to water. In New 2001. During that run, his Panthers were a TESUQUE, AND TAOS Mexico, we are setting a different precedent— combined 111-4. As a senior, the 6-foot-10 a precedent of respect and compromise, one Kendrick averaged 27 points, 16 rebounds, HON. TOM UDALL that will help us move into the future with well and almost 8 blocked shots per game, easily OF NEW MEXICO established partnerships and a commitment to making him one of the nation’s top high school IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES conserve and manage this vital resource to prospects. the benefit of all. I am honored to introduce After graduating from high school in 2003, a Thursday, July 31, 2008 this legislation today that will bring the pueblos number of elite colleges recruited him and he Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Today I rise to and communities involved in the Aamodt and was considered by some to be the best high introduce a bill to complete two major tribal Abeyta one step closer to establishing a se- school center in America. He was ranked water settlements in northern New Mexico, the cure water future.

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