Pete Domenici: “both as chairman and now as the ranking member on the Budget Committee, I have been working over the last year with the…”

“both as chairman and now as the ranking member on the Budget Committee, I have been working over the last year with the Western Governors' Association, the Western Regional Council, the Native American Rights Fund, the Western States Water Council, as well as several Indian tribes to correct what I believe to be a flaw in the Budget Enforcement Act as it relates to the Federal funding of Indian land and water settlements. I, along with a group of bipartisan Senators, including the chairman and ranking member of the Indian Affairs Committee are introducing today legislation that will help Congress fulfill its commitment to authorized Indian land and water settlements. In FY 2002, the President's request for Indian land and water settlements funding was $61 million. This represents an increase from fiscal year 2001 of $23 million. The increase is due to the authorization of several large settlements in California, Colorado, Michigan, New Mexico, and Utah. I am pleased to report that the full request was included in both the Senate and House passed budget resolutions. In turn, the request was fully appropriated in both the House and Senate versions of the fiscal year 2002 Interior appropriations bill. This is a tremendous first step in making sure the Congress fulfills its obligation regarding these settlements. But it is only the first step. In the near future, there are, at least, three additional large settlements likely to come before Congress.”