News Release
24th Navajo Nation Council
Speaker Seth Damon and the 24th Navajo Nation Council offer their condolences to the family of United States Senator Harry M. Reid, who passed away December 28, at the age of 82, in his hometown of Henderson, Nev.
According to a Tuesday statement from his wife Landra Reid, she shared, “I am heartbroken to announce the passing of my husband, former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. He died peacefully this afternoon, surrounded by our family, following a courageous, four-year battle with pancreatic cancer.”
Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) became one of the longest-serving Senate majority leaders in history that served during the presidencies of George W. Bush and Barack Obama. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2018.
“Senator Harry Reid was a fighter who cared deeply about the people he represented. He was a true champion for the Navajo people and advocated for Tribal Nations across the United States. Through his leadership, the Navajo Nation and the State of New Mexico executed a settlement agreement to resolve our claims for use of water in the San Juan River Basin. Senator Reid played a key role writing major portions of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and pushed forward the passage of the Affordable Care Act that would provide critical healthcare to millions of Americans. We send our prayers and deepest condolences to his wife Landra and those he cared for,” said Speaker Seth Damon (Bááhaalí, Chichiltah, Manuelito, Red Rock, Rock Springs, Tséyatoh).
In 2009, Senator Reid was instrumental in getting the Affordable Care Act passed, and that law included permanent reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) providing long term assistance by the Indian Health Service (IHS) and tribal health care facilities. President Obama signed the bill into law in 2010 after it was fully passed by Congress.
President Joe Biden added, “Under his watch as Senate Majority Leader, Harry helped pass the Recovery Act to prevent another Great Depression. Throughout his entire career in the Senate, he led battles over budgets, fought to give our troops what they needed in battle and what they earned and deserved upon their return home. A boxer, he never gave up a fight — whether in politics or even against cancer. A great American, Harry looked at the challenges of the world and believed it was within our capacity to do good, to do right, and to do our part of perfecting the Union we all love.”
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid supported several public policy and tribal leadership programs. His office worked with the Native American Political Leadership Program (NAPLP) at the George Washington University to support the next generation of young Indigenous leaders to study federal-tribal relations and political processes in Washington, D.C.
President Joe Biden added, “Under his watch as Senate Majority Leader, Harry helped pass the Recovery Act to prevent another Great Depression. Throughout his entire career in the Senate, he led battles over budgets, fought to give our troops what they needed in battle and what they earned and deserved upon their return home. A boxer, he never gave up a fight — whether in politics or even against cancer. A great American, Harry looked at the challenges of the world and believed it was within our capacity to do good, to do right, and to do our part of perfecting the Union we all love.”
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid supported several public policy and tribal leadership programs. His office worked with the Native American Political Leadership Program (NAPLP) at the George Washington University to support the next generation of young Indigenous leaders to study federal-tribal relations and political processes in Washington, D.C.
