Tom Udall: “In 1951, the Pueblo of San Ildefonso, located in northern New Mexico, initially filed a legal claim under the Indian…”

“In 1951, the Pueblo of San Ildefonso, located in northern New Mexico, initially filed a legal claim under the Indian Claims Commission Act of 1946. That law provides for some degree of compensation to Native American tribes and pueblos for lands lost and for damages resulting from government actions. The claim of the Pueblo of San Ildefonso is the last remaining unresolved case under the 1946 Act. On May 24, 2006, S. 1773, The Pueblo de San Ildefonso Claims Settlement Act, passed the Senate by unanimous consent. I ask today that my colleagues in this House fully support passage of this important and historic bill. This legislation is needed to implement the settlement agreement signed by the Pueblo and the Departments of Justice, Interior, and Agriculture. According to the terms of the agreement, authorizing legislation must be enacted by November 2006. Passage into law of S. 1773 will conclude the case, entitled Pueblo de San Ildefonso v. United States of America, with the Indian Claims Commission. After many years of serious negotiations among the Pueblo of San Ildefonso, the Federal Government, the surrounding counties, and a neighboring tribe, this non-controversial bill will finally provide a resolution of this long-standing concern. It will also end the Indian Claims Commission chapter of federal Indian affairs. The Senate Indian Affairs Committee Report, S. Rpt.…”