A bill to distribute $144 million to members of the Western Shoshone Nation is on the Congressional agenda for the year.

The money is considered payment for 60 million acres of land the Western Shoshone tribes, now located in Nevada, California, Idaho and Utah, lost. Each tribal member would receive a per capita payment of about $20,000.

The Senate passed the bill last year but it did not clear the House. Western Shoshone activists are fighting the bill, saying the U.S. never rightfully gained ownership of the 60 million acres.

Get the Story:
Western Shoshone tribes divided over land dispute with government (The Chicago Tribune 1/12)
Newcomb: Te-Moak Tribal Council rejects former chairman�s past actions (Indian Country Today 1/12)

Relevant Documents:
House Resources Committee: Written Witness Testimony (June 18, 2003)

Get the Bill:
Western Shoshone Claims Distribution Act (H.R.884)

Related Stories:
Western Shoshone leaders want U.S. to show ownership (10/27)
Senate approves $144M Western Shoshone payout bill (10/20)
Western Shoshones sue over 60M acres of land (09/30)
Senate panel approves Western Shoshone payout bill (07/17)
House panel considers Shoshone payout bill (06/19)
Reid says he would consider Shoshone land claims (03/14)
Western Shoshone payout bill reintroduced (02/26)
Indian bills faces uncertain future in Congress (11/18)
Senate approves Shoshone payout (11/14)
Opposition to Shoshone payout mounts (10/15)
BLM auctions seized Shoshone cattle (10/7)
U.S. asked to halt Shoshone auction (10/4)
BLM to auction seized Shoshone cattle (10/2)
Shoshone activists to stage protests (9/30)
Senate panel approves Shoshone payout (9/26)
Shoshone cattle seized, horses feared next (9/24)
Shoshone 'renegades' resist land payout (8/26)
Senate panel debates Shoshone payout bill (8/5)
Western Shoshone are 'homeless' (8/2)
Report finds human rights violations (8/1)
Shoshone land 'not for sale' (7/22)