Jon Kyl: “with Congress having passed S 437, I make a commitment to the San Carlos Apache Tribe to work next year to help attain…”

“with Congress having passed S 437, I make a commitment to the San Carlos Apache Tribe to work next year to help attain and have enacted a fair Gila River water settlement for the tribe. The Gila River runs through the tribe's reservation. San Carlos Reservoir is located within their reservation. The tribe deserves a fair settlement of its water rights claims to that river and I want my colleagues and others to know that I am absolutely committed to achieving that. I had hoped to have been able to bring to the Senate legislation that would include a Gila River water settlement for this tribe. Unfortunately, we were unable to do that. The tribe is working toward a settlement with a number of groups that use the Gila River. I hope that the tribe, the United States, and the local non-Indian water users will be able to settle the tribe's water rights claims in the coming year. In connection with that effort, I want to send a strong message to the settlement negotiators: I expect everyone to negotiate in good-faith toward a fair settlement. I encourage all parties, including the San Carlos Apaches, to engage earnestly and vigorously to complete a Gila River water settlement as soon as possible. I will then work with both the Senators from New Mexico and my Senate colleagues to see that such an agreement is ratified through legislation next year.”