On the recordMarch 13, 2014
This amendment does not fix the bill because the bill cannot be fixed. The savings clause in the base bill and the savings clause that Mr. Mullin's amendment includes are symptoms of the problem that we pointed out before in this bill, not the solution. The amendment would be the sixth savings clause added to this 4-page bill. I do support Representative Mullin's and Representative Cole's efforts in protecting our Native American communities' water rights. As the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole) mentioned at the Rules Committee last night, Native American water rights are the oldest water rights in the system. They are time immemorial, and yet we choose to ignore them. I remember Congressman Kildee repeatedly saying, under the Constitution, they hold the first water rights in the United States, and yet we do not recognize them. Yet, since Republicans took the majority 4 years ago, there has been no legislation, no oversight hearings on any Indian water rights settlements. If we want to support Native American water rights, Congress should consider tribal water rights legislation, enact tribal water rights legislation, and fund tribal water rights legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.
