Wes Watkins: “I fully support H.R. 3534 and express my thanks to the people. I rise today in support of the Cherokee, Choctaw, and…”

“I fully support H.R. 3534 and express my thanks to the people. I rise today in support of the Cherokee, Choctaw, and Chickasaw Nations Claims Settlement Act. In 1970 the United States Supreme Court ruled the Tribes were the true owners of the Arkansas Riverbed. After many attempts to settle with the government for the mismanagement of the riverbed, the tribes filed lawsuits for damages in 1989. These lawsuits are still pending in Federal Court and without this legislation as many as 1200 potential future lawsuits will be filed. The Arkansas Riverbed encompasses over 7,500 acres of the Indian Nations' drybed lands that have been occupied and settled by a large number of adjacent landowners in Oklahoma. Without a settlement, further litigation against thousands of landowners would be likely. The potential of these lawsuits and the time and increased expense to not only the government and tribes, but also to the private citizens is in my opinion a valid enough and strong enough reason to settle the Arkansas Riverbed issue once and for all.”