What war are we using to justify this unprecedented action to distort the markets?

This Administration and Congress have said they are committed to Indian water rights settlements versus costly litigation. However, we need that commitment tied to a true financial commitment.

The Navajo Utah legislation will cost upwards of $200 million.

Ultimately, the bill would secure the tribe's current and future access to water, the life blood of the community.

The CSKT settlement from the last Congress will possibly cost more than $2 billion.

I find it very difficult, knowing the current funding constraints we face in Congress, to fund these Indian water rights settlements solely through discretionary spending.

water is life

water is for fighting

The importance of these settlements to providing certainty to both Indian and non-Indian communities cannot be overstated, particularly when climate change and drought threaten water supplies throughout the West.

I believe we can find common ground on these important issues.

we are trying to bring certainty, as Mr. Tubbs said, to the process

I believe we have a responsibility to uphold our commitments to Native American tribes.

The Hualapai settlement will also end up somewhere in that range.

When it comes to protecting consumers, I am afraid that both Congress and the FTC have much more to do.

These three bills give Congress a chance to do the right thing by those tribal communities to whom we owe legal, financial and moral obligations.

The three bills before us today cover two issues of great importance to Indian Country, economic development and tribal water rights settlements.

These settlement funds, which come on line in 2020, will go a long way towards paying for the $1.6 billion backlog to complete just five of the currently authorized Indian water rights settlements.

The repeal of this law, which does not apply to State lands, would remove needless barriers to economic development in Indian Country and provide parity for tribes.