Angie Craig: “In 1988, I helped my colleague from Colorado, Senator Campbell, develop and pass the Colorado Ute Water Settlement Act.…”

“In 1988, I helped my colleague from Colorado, Senator Campbell, develop and pass the Colorado Ute Water Settlement Act. It was fair and responsible at that time to deal with a dispute that could only be dealt with in the nature that we solved it with this legislation. From that point to now, there has been discussion and dispute and a substantial scaling down of this project. In the high deserts of the West, water is everything. If my colleague from Wisconsin lived in the deserts of the West, he would be scrambling to secure water for his people. He doesn't live there. He doesn't understand the importance of this very, very critical water issue. This is a balanced compromise with all parties sharing. These Indians, these native Americans without water can find it very, very difficult to eke out an existence, whereas, with water, they have an opportunity with agriculture to prosper and develop their lands. That is what this issue is all about. Let us keep our word and our promise.”