Issue Position: Indian Trust

Issue Position

On December 7, 2009, after 14 years of continuous litigation, the Department of Interior reached an agreement with the claimants that provided settlement for the federal government's mismanagement of tribal trust lands in the Cobell vs. Salazar case. A fund totaling $1.4 billion will be distributed to class members to compensate them for their historical accounting claims, and to resolve potential claims. In addition, the settlement establishes a $2 billion fund for the voluntary buy-back and consolidation of fractionated land interests. Funds from this account would also be made available for Indian Education Scholarships. Though this compensation should probably be much larger to correct for a century of trust land mismanagement, this compromise settlement is historic for many in Indian Country. Though this agreement is not perfect, I will do all I can to ensure that it is approved by Congress in a timely fashion.

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