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Hearing Hearings to examine S.3573, to amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act to modify a provision relating to the extension of certain dates for the...
senate Indian Affairs Committee · Jul 29, 2026 · Transcript · 33 transcript matches
LUJÁN, BEN RAY "move forward with this bill, 3573, and I want to acknowledge Senator Martin Heinrich, our Senator from New Mexico, with his work on the legislation as well. Now, Mr. Cameron, with all the conversation today, there's been a lot of attention brought to the number of pending water rights settlements. There are 39 enacted Indian water rights settlements binding federal commitments to tribal communities, but no guaranteed funding source for any of the settlement that were enacted after 2021. My legislation, Protecting Indian Water Rights Settlements Act 4890 fixes that by creating two dedicated..."
CRS Report
Proposed Extension of the Reclamation Water Settlements Fund
Resources · Jul 9, 2020
Since 1978, the federal government has entered into 36 water rights settlements with individual Indian tribes. These Indian water rights settlements are a means of resolving ongoing disputes related...
CRS Report
Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN)
Resources · Jan 6, 2017
The Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN or WIIN Act; P.L. 114-322) authorized a broad range of water resource and water quality activities when it was signed into law on...
CRS Report
Department of the Interior Support for Tribal Water Projects
Resources · May 10, 2024
Congress regulates tribal affairs, including tribal access to water resources, pursuant to its constitutional authority. In addition, the federal government has a federal trust responsibility to...
Hearing Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Requests for the Army Corps of Engineers (Civil Works) and the Bureau of Reclamation
house Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee · May 21, 2025 · Transcript · 5 transcript matches
FLEISCHMANN, CHARLES J. "CHUCK" "For the Bureau of Reclamation and Central Utah Project, the request proposes a total of $1.2 billion, a stated reduction of $609 million, or approximately 35 percent below the enacted level. I'm concerned that at this level, we will not be able to address the most pressing water resources needs across the west. Of particular concern is the ability to continue progress on existing Indian water rights settlements. Upholding our nation's treaty and trust responsibilities is among the Department of Interior's highest priorities, and we cannot afford to fail delivering access to safe and reliable..."
CRS Report
Bureau of Reclamation Project Authorization and Financing
Resources · Jan 11, 2018
The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), an agency within the Department of the Interior (DOI), is responsible for the construction and maintenance of the majority of the large dams and water...
Testimony HUFFMAN, JARED
Oversight hearing titled “The Federal Reclamation Program’s Next Centu...
house Natural Resources Committee · May 20, 2026
"serious planning, all of this can help meet the reality of climate change. We need a holistic approach in a 21st century water strategy that reflects the realities that we're living in and that means maintaining critical infrastructure while investing in conservation, groundwater recharge, recycling and reuse, water use efficiency, watershed restoration, better data collection and forecasting and smart storage. That's what forward-looking water management looks like in the 21st century. And we..."
CRS Report
America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-270): Drinking Water Provisions
Reports · Mar 28, 2019
Congress has long deliberated on the condition of drinking water infrastructure and drinking water quality as well as the financial and technical challenges some public water systems face in ensuring...
Testimony LUJÁN, BEN RAY
Hearings to examine S.3573, to amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement ...
senate Indian Affairs Committee · Jul 29, 2026
"move forward with this bill, 3573, and I want to acknowledge Senator Martin Heinrich, our Senator from New Mexico, with his work on the legislation as well. Now, Mr. Cameron, with all the conversation today, there's been a lot of attention brought to the number of pending water rights settlements. There are 39 enacted Indian water rights settlements binding federal commitments to tribal communities, but no guaranteed funding source for any of the settlement that were enacted after 2021. My..."
CRS Report
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Water Infrastructure Programs and FY2023 Appropriations
Resources · Jan 13, 2023
Many policymakers and stakeholders have raised concerns about the condition of the nation’s local drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and the financial challenges that communities may...
Testimony SCOTT CAMERON
Hearings to examine S.3573, to amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement ...
senate Indian Affairs Committee · Jul 29, 2026
"As you indicated, I am Scott Cameron, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science at the Department of the Interior. Today, I will be addressing four bills related to specific Indian water rights settlements and one bill that would increase funding for the Indian Water Rights Settlement Completion Fund. S-4890, the Protecting Indian Water Rights Settlement Act, would establish two new subaccounts within the Indian Water Rights Settlement Completion Fund, providing $450 million..."
CRS Report
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Water Infrastructure Programs and FY2024 Appropriations
Resources · Mar 22, 2024
Many policymakers and stakeholders have raised concerns about the condition of the nation’s local drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and the financial challenges that communities may...
Hearing An oversight hearing to examine the Colorado river basin, including post-2026 operations negotiations.
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Jun 10, 2026 · Transcript · 4 transcript matches
CORTEZ MASTO, CATHERINE "Thank you. And then in 2023, the Supreme Court held that federally recognized tribes can pursue claims to secure reserved rights beyond what is required under the treaty. This is especially relevant because my colleague, Senator Kelly, as you well know, introduced the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025. This is important legislation, and I appreciate the work of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs that I sit on, along with Chair Murkowski and Vice Chair Schatz, for actually holding hearings on this bill. And at the hearing in the Indian Affairs Committee, the..."
Testimony SCOTT CAMERON
Hearings to examine S.3573, to amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement ...
senate Indian Affairs Committee · Jul 29, 2026
"We look forward to working with the parties to resolve these issues. Finally, S4417, the Pechanga Band of Indian Water Rights Settlement Technical Amendments Act, would make technical changes to the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indian Water Rights Settlement Act, expanding the definition of reservation and broadening eligible uses of the Pechanga water quality account. The department is very pleased to support these amendments as they facilitate implementation without increasing federal funding or..."
CRS Report
Bureau of Reclamation: FY2022 Appropriations
Resources · Mar 28, 2022
Overview The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), part of the Department of the Interior, is responsible for construction and operation of hundreds of large dams and water diversion structures in the...
CRS Report
Bureau of Reclamation Provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58)
Reports · Mar 21, 2024
In the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA, also referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law; P.L. 117-58), Congress provided a major influx of funding for the Bureau of Reclamation...
Hearing • H.R. 726 (Rep. Downing), “Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025” • H.R. 2317 (Rep. Amodei), “Northern Nevada Economic...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jul 15, 2026 · Request transcript · 5 transcript matches
WESTERMAN, BRUCE "Today we're considering four bills under regular order that support rural and tribal communities across the country by facilitating the completion of an existing Indian water right settlement, increasing land access, supporting polar bear conservation, and more. The first bill, Mr. Downing's Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025, will make necessary adjustments to the 2010 law to better enable the Crow Tribe of Montana to implement its long-standing water rights settlement. The legislation will provide flexibility to deliver a reliable water supply to the Crow Indian..."
CRS Report
Land and Water Conservation Fund: Appropriations for “Other Purposes”
Reports · May 14, 2019
The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Act of 1965 (P.L. 88-578) created the LWCF in the Treasury as a funding source to implement the outdoor recreation goals set out by the act. The LWCF Act...
Hearing Business meeting to consider S.105, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to complete all actions necessary for certain land to be held in...
senate Indian Affairs Committee · Mar 5, 2025 · Request transcript
CRS Report
Bureau of Reclamation: FY2023 Budget and Appropriations
Resources · Feb 15, 2023
Overview The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), part of the Department of the Interior, is responsible for the construction and operation of hundreds of large dams and water diversion structures in...
CRS Report
“Reserved” but Not “Secured”: Supreme Court Sinks Navajo Nation’s Attempt to Compel Federal Action on Tribal Water Rights
Posts · Jul 5, 2023
On June 22, 2023, the Supreme Court issued its decision in two consolidated cases (hereinafter Navajo Nation) involving the Navajo Nation’s rights to water on the Navajo Reservation, which generally...
CRS Report
Bureau of Reclamation: FY2024 Budget and Appropriations
Resources · Apr 5, 2024
The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), part of the Department of the Interior, is primarily responsible for the construction and operation of hundreds of large dams and water diversion structures...
Testimony FLEISCHMANN, CHARLES J. "CHUCK"
Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Requests for the Army Corps of Engineers (Civi...
house Appropriations Committee · May 21, 2025
"For the Bureau of Reclamation and Central Utah Project, the request proposes a total of $1.2 billion, a stated reduction of $609 million, or approximately 35 percent below the enacted level. I'm concerned that at this level, we will not be able to address the most pressing water resources needs across the west. Of particular concern is the ability to continue progress on existing Indian water rights settlements. Upholding our nation's treaty and trust responsibilities is among the Department of..."
Hearing Oversight hearing titled “The Federal Reclamation Program’s Next Century”
house Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee · May 20, 2026 · Transcript · 2 transcript matches
HUFFMAN, JARED "serious planning, all of this can help meet the reality of climate change. We need a holistic approach in a 21st century water strategy that reflects the realities that we're living in and that means maintaining critical infrastructure while investing in conservation, groundwater recharge, recycling and reuse, water use efficiency, watershed restoration, better data collection and forecasting and smart storage. That's what forward-looking water management looks like in the 21st century. And we look towards reclamations next century, hoping that we will ensure that all communities have access..."
CRS Report
Indian Water Rights Settlements
Reports · Jun 17, 2025
In the second half of the 19th century, the federal government pursued a policy of confining Native American Tribes to reservations. The federal statutes and treaties reserving such land for tribal...
CRS Report
The Reclamation Fund
Resources · May 21, 2019
The Reclamation Act of 1902 authorized the Secretary of the Interior to construct irrigation works in western states through the Reclamation Service (later renamed the Bureau of Reclamation [BOR or...
Testimony CORTEZ MASTO, CATHERINE
An oversight hearing to examine the Colorado river basin, including po...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"Thank you. And then in 2023, the Supreme Court held that federally recognized tribes can pursue claims to secure reserved rights beyond what is required under the treaty. This is especially relevant because my colleague, Senator Kelly, as you well know, introduced the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025. This is important legislation, and I appreciate the work of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs that I sit on, along with Chair Murkowski and Vice Chair Schatz,..."
Testimony SCHATZ, BRIAN
Hearings to examine S.3573, to amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement ...
senate Indian Affairs Committee · Jul 29, 2026
"for their tribes, so welcome. To date, Congress has enacted 35 Indian water rights settlements, 16 new settlements or amendments are currently pending before Congress, and more than a dozen tribes are in active settlement negotiations with the Department of the Interior. Four would settle or address Indian water rights claims to ensure access to much needed clean and reliable drinking water for tribes and surrounding communities. We all know that it is Congress's obligation to consider..."
Testimony MURKOWSKI, LISA
Hearings to examine S.3573, to amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement ...
senate Indian Affairs Committee · Jul 29, 2026
"It will come to order. We're here today to receive testimony on five bills addressing Indian water rights settlements, four related to settlements, and one focused on the broader challenge of how do we finance"
Testimony MURKOWSKI, LISA
Hearings to examine S.3573, to amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement ...
senate Indian Affairs Committee · Jul 29, 2026
"and that we're not creating obligations that exceed practical or fiscal capacity. Through the bipartisan infrastructure law, Congress provided a once-in-a-generation investment of $2.5 billion to complete previously enacted Indian water settlements. That funding was historic, and it was"
Testimony MURKOWSKI, LISA
Hearings to examine S.3573, to amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement ...
senate Indian Affairs Committee · Jul 29, 2026
"Senators Kyle and Baucus, both members of the Finance Committee, helped bring together the settlement package and a budgetary offset that included an extension of customs user fees. And that cooperation allowed Congress to authorize and fund four major Indian water settlements, along with the Cobell and Pickford settlements. And then today, we have another proposal to establish a dedicated settlement fund, S-4890, also from Senator Lujan, would establish two mandatory funding subaccounts within..."
Testimony MURKOWSKI, LISA
Hearings to examine S.3573, to amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement ...
senate Indian Affairs Committee · Jul 29, 2026
"while maintaining fiscal responsibility and balancing the many priorities that face Indian country. That's what must be front of mind as we consider these measures and think about the future of Indian water rights settlements. So I want to thank our"
Testimony SCHATZ, BRIAN
Hearings to examine S.3573, to amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement ...
senate Indian Affairs Committee · Jul 29, 2026
"So I appreciate that the DOI is here to testify today. As a party to all Indian water settlements, it is vital to have the Department's"
Testimony PADILLA, ALEX
Hearings to examine S.3573, to amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement ...
senate Indian Affairs Committee · Jul 29, 2026
"I want to recognize Councilmember Chacon from the Pechanga Band of Indians and Chairman Gruby from the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. I thank them both for their service, for their leadership, for being here today, and for testifying at today's hearing. For generations, the Pechanga Band of Indians has been a dedicated steward of land and water resources in the Temecula Valley. Pechanga's water rights settlement was codified in 2016 and made fully enforceable in 2020. The Pechanga Band..."
Testimony PADILLA, ALEX
Hearings to examine S.3573, to amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement ...
senate Indian Affairs Committee · Jul 29, 2026
"All parties reached a comprehensive agreement last May to secure the tribe's federally reserved water rights and to promote the tribe's sovereign authority over its water resources and trust lands. The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Water Rights Settlement Act would ratify this agreement. This bill also includes provisions to establish a fund to support critical water infrastructure investments as part of the settlement and to transfer additional land administered by the Bureau of Land..."
Testimony SCOTT CAMERON
Hearings to examine S.3573, to amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement ...
senate Indian Affairs Committee · Jul 29, 2026
"We are, however, committed to working with the stakeholders to address these issues. S4368, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indian Water Rights Settlement Act, would ratify a settlement agreement, quantify groundwater rights, and appropriate $500 million in mandatory"
Testimony SCOTT CAMERON
Hearings to examine S.3573, to amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement ...
senate Indian Affairs Committee · Jul 29, 2026
"expanding the definition of reservation and broadening eligible uses of the Pechanga water quality account. The department is very pleased to support these amendments as they facilitate implementation without increasing federal funding or affecting enforceability. In general, the Department of the Interior is committed to implementing Indian water rights settlements and ensuring that tribal communities have access to reliable water resources. We look forward to working with Congress, tribal..."
Testimony THE HONORABLE CATALINA CHACON
Hearings to examine S.3573, to amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement ...
senate Indian Affairs Committee · Jul 29, 2026
"Good afternoon, Chairman Murkowski, Vice-Chairman Schatz, and members of the committee. My name is Catalina Chacon, and I'm honored to serve as a member of the Tribal Council of Pechanga Band of Indians. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today in support of S-4417, the Pechanga Band of Indians Water Rights Settlement Technical Amendments Act. Before I discuss this bill, I'd like to take a moment to explain why this legislation is so important to my tribe. The Pechanga Band of Indians...."
Testimony THE HONORABLE CATALINA CHACON
Hearings to examine S.3573, to amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement ...
senate Indian Affairs Committee · Jul 29, 2026
"Congress enacted our water settlement in 2016. It was a product of years of collaboration between Pechanga, neighboring water districts, and the United States. It recognized our federally reserved water rights, resolved long-standing disputes, and established a cooperative framework for protecting water resources throughout the Santa Margarita River watershed. Nearly 10 years later, that settlement is working, but as often happens with legislation implementing complex Indian water settlements,..."
Testimony SCHATZ, BRIAN
Hearings to examine S.3573, to amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement ...
senate Indian Affairs Committee · Jul 29, 2026
"Would such a solution help Interior to pay for the settlements? Several members of this committee have proposed ways to pay for Indian water rights settlements, but this administration has not really responded in writing, either with TA or sort of even policy advice on Senator Lujan's bill, the one that I'm"
Testimony ROUNDS, MIKE
Hearings to examine S.3573, to amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement ...
senate Indian Affairs Committee · Jul 29, 2026
"diversion of water from the Missouri River or any of its tributaries to a state outside of the watershed unless such diversion is approved by the governor of each of the Missouri River states, in effect granting veto authority to a single state over water projects in the And my question for you is how would the adoption of this provision impact existing and future Indian water rights settlements, and does the Bureau of Reclamation have concerns about this specific provision? I recognize that..."
Testimony LUJÁN, BEN RAY
Hearings to examine S.3573, to amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement ...
senate Indian Affairs Committee · Jul 29, 2026
"to our tribal brothers and sisters, to our First Nations, as required by treaties and by the Constitution, water that they were promised. Mr. Cameron, your testimony notes that the department relies on Congress to appropriate the funds necessary to reach enforceability through the annual budget process, but your testimony also references the $13 billion in pending settlement obligations that the annual appropriations process has not kept pace with. The Indian Water Rights Settlement Completion..."
Testimony MURKOWSKI, LISA
Hearings to examine S.3573, to amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement ...
senate Indian Affairs Committee · Jul 29, 2026
"Again, the Interior has described this as a novel provision involving preemption of state and local tax law. Have we seen this tax replacement structure in any previous Indian water settlements that you're aware of? Is there a concern that you could establish precedent for respective taxing authority for tribes and states and county on reservation lands? I mean, is this what we're concerned"
Testimony MURKOWSKI, LISA
Hearings to examine S.3573, to amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement ...
senate Indian Affairs Committee · Jul 29, 2026
"Fair enough. It goes back to the original comments from Senator Schatz here about just getting greater fidelity to numbers, and given the size and the consequence of these settlements that we're talking about, that seems to make good sense, but it also requires good communication going back and forth, which is part of why we're putting this all out on the record here today. We sometimes talk here in Congress about Indian water settlements only in the terms of acre feet and project costs and..."
Testimony SCOTT CAMERON
Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Requests for the Army Corps of Engineers (Civi...
house Appropriations Committee · May 21, 2025
"efficiently to deliver water and power generation to our communities. As the Chairman mentioned earlier, Indian water rights is a significant concern for the Bureau of Reclamation, and within a budget-constrained environment, we intend to do everything we can to meet our obligations to Indian"
Testimony FLEISCHMANN, CHARLES J. "CHUCK"
Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Requests for the Army Corps of Engineers (Civi...
house Appropriations Committee · May 21, 2025
"Finally, more generally, it seems like Chickamauga Loxer is out ahead of several ongoing inland waterway construction projects. In what ways are you leveraging this project as a learning opportunity to improve project delivery across the nation? Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. In my remaining time, Mr. Cameron, thank you for your opening remarks about Indian water rights and settlements. Very important to us and I think members on both sides of the dais. Can you provide us a status update for..."
Testimony SIMPSON, MICHAEL K.
Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Requests for the Army Corps of Engineers (Civi...
house Appropriations Committee · May 21, 2025
"conservatively monitoring that. The communities are concerned that this, your estimate that it may take till the end of the decade to replace this, is that where we still are that it will take that long? Cameron, one other question. I'm glad as the chairman is that you mentioned Indian water rights. It's going to eat the interior budget. These water rights settlements are enormous cost. We've wondered why they don't come out of the judgment fund like other settlements do that the federal..."
Testimony SPEAKER_25
An oversight hearing to examine the Colorado river basin, including po...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"But to your initial question, we feel that Reclamation, the Department of the Interior, has the authorities to move forward if needed, if we cannot get to consensus. No. Thank you for the question. Yes, I think we all know that Indian water rights settlements are extremely important. They allow for the sovereignty, allow for more"
Testimony SPEAKER_25
An oversight hearing to examine the Colorado river basin, including po...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"So I think working with those tribes, getting the thoughtful ideas from them as well, that's where the tribal pool has come from. And then also looking at, yeah, is it an Indian water rights settlement? Is some of this other infrastructure that's being worked on with other tribes, is there opportunities for exchanges and being able to maximize working with other partners to utilize that water? So I think, no, they're very important to the basin as well, part of the solution moving"
Testimony GALLEGO, RUBEN
An oversight hearing to examine the Colorado river basin, including po...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"To that end, the lower basin states, including Arizona, submitted a proposal last month for near-term operations, to deal with near-term operations, and this would stabilize the Colorado River alongside significant commitments to conservation from lower basin users. So I'm grateful to these states for the leadership and hope to see that plan adapted. I also appreciate my colleagues from Nevada's question regarding the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act. I'm very proud to..."
Testimony WESTERMAN, BRUCE
• H.R. 726 (Rep. Downing), “Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendme...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jul 15, 2026
"Today we're considering four bills under regular order that support rural and tribal communities across the country by facilitating the completion of an existing Indian water right settlement, increasing land access, supporting polar bear conservation, and more. The first bill, Mr. Downing's Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025, will make necessary adjustments to the 2010 law to better enable the Crow Tribe of Montana to implement its long-standing water rights settlement...."
Testimony WESTERMAN, BRUCE
• H.R. 726 (Rep. Downing), “Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendme...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jul 15, 2026
"I recognize myself, I strongly support Mr. Downing's bill, the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025. This legislation recognizes the challenge facing many previously enacted project-based Indian water rights settlements, delivering the original scope of a federal reclamation project within the cost estimated nearly 20 years ago. This bill accomplishes two key goals. First, it converts the existing project-based settlement managed by the Bureau of"
Testimony WESTERMAN, BRUCE
• H.R. 726 (Rep. Downing), “Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendme...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jul 15, 2026
"I also recognize that there are several pending bills related to new and existing water rights settlements that have not been able to move due to cost implications. I certainly understand the importance of these bills and I would like to work to find a path to advance Indian water rights settlements legislation in a way that allows them to be considered in the House. And while those bills still require additional work to address the cost, I applaud Congressman Downing and Senator Daines for..."
Testimony DAINES, STEVE
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Apr 29, 2026
"Yeah, it is, and we're depending on unspent funds like that to be a lifeline to keep us going there in these arid parts of our state. Secretary Burgum, we had a good discussion when you were in Montana about completing our last Indian water settlement. The fact is, last night we had an amazing event at the White"
Hearing Oversight hearings to examine Federal policies governing Indian water rights settlements, including S.953, to provide for the settlement of the...
senate Indian Affairs Committee · Mar 11, 2026 · Request transcript
Hearing Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2027 for the Department of the Interior.
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Apr 29, 2026 · Transcript
DAINES, STEVE "Yeah, it is, and we're depending on unspent funds like that to be a lifeline to keep us going there in these arid parts of our state. Secretary Burgum, we had a good discussion when you were in Montana about completing our last Indian water settlement. The fact is, last night we had an amazing event at the White"
Hearing Various Measures
house Foreign Affairs Committee · Jun 9, 2026 · Transcript
CASTRO, JOAQUIN "now, we've organized our strategy around a region we call the Indo-Pacific. It's a recognition that the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean form a continuous theater where U.S. foreign and defense policy must be coordinated. But if you look honestly at where our attention, our resources, and our planning have actually gone, the truth is it's been weighted heavily towards the Pacific. The Indo, the Indian Ocean, has too often been an afterthought. So my amendment is, in plain terms, about putting the Indo back into Indo-Pacific. And this is not a small piece of the map. The Indian Ocean is home..."
Hearing • H.R. 3276 (Rep. Dingell), “Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act of 2025” • H.R. 3925 (Rep. Obernolte), “Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 10, 2026 · Transcript
WESTERMAN, BRUCE "Yield back. The gentleman yields back. Is there further discussion? If there's no further discussion, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 3276, the Local Communities and Bird Habitat Stewardship Act of 2025, without objection. So ordered, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 3925, the Uhavatam of San Manuel Nation Land Exchange Act, without objection. So ordered, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on..."
Hearing Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2027 for the Department of Energy.
senate Energy and Water Development Subcommittee · Apr 22, 2026 · Transcript
SPEAKER_02 "Department of the Interior and discuss what our team is doing to make America safer, stronger, more beautiful and more prosperous. As you all know, on this committee, the department touches the lives of millions of Americans. We manage Americans vast energy supply and natural resources. We honor federal trust responsibilities and our unique relationships with 575 tribal nations. We deliver water to the West. We fight fires, we enforce the law, and we steward our treasured wildlife refuges and national parks. Our efforts extend across the country to ensure border security. The Department of..."
Hearing Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2027 for the Department of the Treasury.
senate Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee · Apr 22, 2026 · Transcript
SPEAKER_02 "Department of the Interior and discuss what our team is doing to make America safer, stronger, more beautiful and more prosperous. As you all know, on this committee, the department touches the lives of millions of Americans. We manage Americans vast energy supply and natural resources. We honor federal trust responsibilities and our unique relationships with 575 tribal nations. We deliver water to the West. We fight fires, we enforce the law, and we steward our treasured wildlife refuges and national parks. Our efforts extend across the country to ensure border security. The Department of..."
Testimony THE HONORABLE JEFF GRUBBE
Hearings to examine S.3573, to amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement ...
senate Indian Affairs Committee · Jul 29, 2026
"Our reservation is checkerboarded with reservation trust lands mixed with non-Indian fee land. Today, our reservation is 34,000 acres and includes large portions of the cities of Palm Springs, Cathedral City, and Rancho Mirage. The tribe and the non-Indian community rely upon the same groundwater supplies. In the desert, surface water is scarce, and almost all the water consumed in the region comes from the aquifer. Non-Indian groundwater mining and interference with Ahwa Kalente's water..."
Testimony MURKOWSKI, LISA
Hearings to examine S.3573, to amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement ...
senate Indian Affairs Committee · Jul 29, 2026
"and a tribal settlement trust fund. And then S-4368 from Senator Padilla would ratify the Agua Caliente Band of Chahulia Indian Settlement with the Coachella Valley Water District and Desert Water Agency. It would confirm the tribe's right to produce or use up to 20,000 acre feet of groundwater"
Testimony THE HONORABLE JEFF GRUBBE
Hearings to examine S.3573, to amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement ...
senate Indian Affairs Committee · Jul 29, 2026
"To protect the tribe's water from further depletion and to preserve it for the future, in 2013, Ahwa Kalente filed a lawsuit against two local water districts, the Coachella Valley Water District and the Desert Water Agency, who deliver water to the reservation. In 2017, Ahwa Kalente obtained a landmark ruling that Indian tribes have federal reserve rights to groundwater. Five years later, following intense mediated discussions, the tribe, the water districts, and the United States reached a..."
Testimony THE HONORABLE CATALINA CHACON
Hearings to examine S.3573, to amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement ...
senate Indian Affairs Committee · Jul 29, 2026
"that settlement can continue to serve the purposes Congress intended for Pechanga, for our neighboring water agencies, and for future generations. On behalf of the Pechanga Band of Indians, I respectfully ask the committee to approve S.4417 and advance it to the full Senate. Thank you for the opportunity to testify before you today, and I'd be happy to answer any questions. Thank"
Testimony THE HONORABLE JEFF GRUBBE
Hearings to examine S.3573, to amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement ...
senate Indian Affairs Committee · Jul 29, 2026
"Thank you. Good afternoon, Chairwoman Murkowski, Vice Chairman Schatz, and honorable members of Thank you. the committee. My name is Jeff Grubbe, and I'm chairman of the Ahwa Kalente Band of Koi Indians. Thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of my tribe's water settlement legislation, S. 4368. Thank you to Senators Padilla and Schiff for sponsoring this historic legislation. The bill secures a water supply for Ahwa Kalente and strengthens tribal self-sufficiency and water security..."
Testimony WESTERMAN, BRUCE
• H.R. 726 (Rep. Downing), “Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendme...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jul 15, 2026
"bolster research and education initiative designed to improve the scientific understanding, management, and sustainability of the nation's water resources, and protect Native American and Alaska patients from medical debt by expanding the window to notify the Indian Health Service after they have received outside emergency care. These bills have achieved bipartisan support and I appreciate the minority for working with us to reach consensus. I look forward to the discussion today and I yield..."
Hearing Legislative Hearing on 4 Bills: •H.R. 7287 (Rep. Johnson of SD), “Lewis and Clark Regional Water System Expansion Feasibility Study Act” •H.R....
house Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee · Apr 29, 2026 · Request transcript
Testimony SCOTT CAMERON
Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Requests for the Army Corps of Engineers (Civi...
house Appropriations Committee · May 21, 2025
"a state-driven solution. In summary, Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, I look forward to answering your questions, and thank you for your time. Mr. Chairman, we are focused primarily on the statutory deadlines for filling our financial obligations to Indian tribes. That is the top priority. The second priority is working with tribes to figure out how they might contribute to broader settlement of water rights issues on a regional basis and water allocation, such as in the Colorado..."
Hearing FC Markup on: • H.R. 178 (Rep. McClintock), To require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out activities to suppress wildfires, and for other...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jul 23, 2025 · Request transcript
Hearing Markup of: • H.R. 741 (Rep. Stanton), “Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act of 2025” • H.R. 3924 (Rep. Neguse), “Wildfire Risk...
house Natural Resources Committee · May 14, 2026 · Request transcript
Hearing Business meeting to consider S.291, to establish an interest-bearing account for the non-Federal contributions to the Lower Colorado River...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Dec 17, 2025 · Request transcript
Testimony CASTRO, JOAQUIN
Various Measures
house Foreign Affairs Committee · Jun 9, 2026
"now, we've organized our strategy around a region we call the Indo-Pacific. It's a recognition that the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean form a continuous theater where U.S. foreign and defense policy must be coordinated. But if you look honestly at where our attention, our resources, and our planning have actually gone, the truth is it's been weighted heavily towards the Pacific. The Indo, the Indian Ocean, has too often been an afterthought. So my amendment is, in plain terms, about putting..."
Testimony SCOTT CAMERON
Oversight hearing titled “The Federal Reclamation Program’s Next Centu...
house Natural Resources Committee · May 20, 2026
"As I'm sure you understand, I can't comment directly on the status of litigation. That's the Justice Department's call. I will make the observation that, as you know better than I do, the Klamath system is very complex. There are lots of different stakeholder groups. There are lots of different structures. There are multiple Indian tribes for which the department has a trust responsibility. And we've got endangered species in the mix as well. This last year, nature was kind to us and there was..."
Testimony WESTERMAN, BRUCE
• H.R. 3276 (Rep. Dingell), “Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewards...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 10, 2026
"Yield back. The gentleman yields back. Is there further discussion? If there's no further discussion, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 3276, the Local Communities and Bird Habitat Stewardship Act of 2025, without objection. So ordered, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 3925, the Uhavatam of San Manuel Nation..."
Testimony SPEAKER_02
Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fi...
senate Appropriations Committee · Apr 22, 2026
"Department of the Interior and discuss what our team is doing to make America safer, stronger, more beautiful and more prosperous. As you all know, on this committee, the department touches the lives of millions of Americans. We manage Americans vast energy supply and natural resources. We honor federal trust responsibilities and our unique relationships with 575 tribal nations. We deliver water to the West. We fight fires, we enforce the law, and we steward our treasured wildlife refuges and..."
Testimony SPEAKER_02
Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fi...
senate Appropriations Committee · Apr 22, 2026
"Department of the Interior and discuss what our team is doing to make America safer, stronger, more beautiful and more prosperous. As you all know, on this committee, the department touches the lives of millions of Americans. We manage Americans vast energy supply and natural resources. We honor federal trust responsibilities and our unique relationships with 575 tribal nations. We deliver water to the West. We fight fires, we enforce the law, and we steward our treasured wildlife refuges and..."