Hearing of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee - Addressing the Needs of Native Communities Through Indian Water Rights Settlements

Hearing

"As you know the topic today is water, water is the lifeblood of our communities. Without it, many communities would not have safe drinking water.

"They could not irrigate fields, grow crops, or raise horses, cattle and buffalo. Economic opportunities and jobs would be lost without water. As trustee, the United States has an important obligation to address Indian water rights.

"Over a century ago, an important Supreme Court case, Winters v. United States, paved the way for Indian tribes to settle their water rights.

"Since then, only a handful of Indian tribes have either litigated or settled their claims for water rights -- and many more still need to be addressed.

"Intensified by severe droughts across the west, there is an increasing competition for these limited water resources. To secure their rights, tribes can litigate their claims -- which can be an expensive route for both the tribe and the federal government.

"In the alternative, tribes can work with state, local, and federal officials to find a palatable solution advanced through a Congressional settlement.

"Today's hearing will provide an opportunity to examine the most appropriate path forward in settling Indian water rights.

"We also will explore the key barriers to moving these settlements through Congress. I look forward to hearing from our witnesses today."

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