"Justice for thousands of Native Americans is teetering in the balance this month.

Congress is close to a landmark settlement, legislation introduced by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., that would resolve the federal government's massive mismanagement of royalties collected on tribal lands.

It would end a decade-old lawsuit by American Indians seeking billions of dollars that the government collected on their behalf but failed to distribute properly.

Now a last-minute balk by the Bush administration is jeopardizing the bill.

The bill was about to be marked up in committee earlier this month, moving forward as Congress adjourned for its summer recess. Suddenly Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales insisted that details still needed to be worked out."

Get the Story:
Pay up and heal this rift (The Arizona Republic 8/17)

Senate Indian Affairs Committee Statement:
INDIAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE POSTPONES CONSIDERATION OF TRUST REFORM LEGISLATION (August 2, 2006)

Indian Trust Reform Act:
S.1439 | H.R.4322

Relevant Links:
Senate Indian Affairs Committee - http://indian.senate.gov
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Kempthorne - http://www.indiantrust.com
Office of Special Trustee - http://www.ost.doi.gov
Cobell v. Norton, Department of Justice - http://www.usdoj.gov/civil/cases/cobell/index.htm

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