Tom Udall

The situation with President Trump's potential foreign policy conflicts of interest is unprecedented and unacceptable.

I rise to honor George B. Willie, Sr., one of our last surviving Navajo code talkers, who passed away at age 92 on December 5, 2017. Mr. Willie was a humble man who never bragged and rarely talked about his uncommon feat. Mr. Willie was…

This is one change that can make all the difference in whether students finish their homework on a daily basis and succeed in school.

We must not leave those behind in rural and tribal parts of our country.

today I wish to pay tribute to Teddy Draper, Sr.--a brave Navajo code talker and a beloved teacher who has helped keep the Navajo language alive. Mr. Draper was born in Canyon del Muerto--a beautiful and ancient canyon within the Canyon…

I wish to honor David Earl Patterson, Sr., a man who gave selflessly to his family, the Navajo Nation, and his country. Mr. Patterson was born November 11, 1922. He was Tachil'nii--Red Running Into the Water People Clan, born for…

today I wish to pay tribute to Pedro Gonzalez--a brave World War II veteran who endured the Bataan Death March and 3\1/2\ years in captivity in the Philippines and in Japan. Mr. Gonzalez passed away January 6, 2018, at the age of 96. Mr…

I rise to speak in support of the Interior Department appropriations bill, which the Senate is currently debating. Before Senator Murkowski leaves the floor, I want to thank her so much. It has been such a pleasure working with her on this…

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 for fighting

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 Hualapai settlement will also end up somewhere in that range.

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.

Moving on to my bill, S. 3168 would permanently extend the Reclamation Water Settlements Fund in order to meet our trust responsibility to Indian Country.

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

whiskey is for drinking and water is for fighting

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