The Senate Indian Affairs Committee has scheduled six more consultation meetings on the $8 billion settlement to the Cobell trust fund lawsuit.

The first meeting takes place today in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The last will be held November 9 at the Senate Russell Office Building in Washington, D.C.

Other meetings have been scheduled in Cabazon, California (October 24); Rapid City, South Dakota (October 25); Albuquerque, New Mexico (October 31); and Bismarck, North Dakota (November 2)

The committee is considering S.1439 to settle the long running Cobell case. The bill has been delayed twice in recent months due to resistance from the Bush administration.

"I think it's incomprehensible that the administration would not be able to come up with at least a response with what is a product of years of effort on the part of this committee and the interested parties," Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona), the committee chairman, said in September.

Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-North Dakota), the vice chairman, said Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales have been cooperative. He traced the delay to the White House.

"It's the White House and the Office of Management and Budget that have not given us a number," Dorgan said earlier this month via video to the National Congress of American Indians.

Congress returns to work on November 13.

Press Release:
ADDITIONAL CONSULTATION MEETINGS TO BE HELD ON S.1439 (SCIA 10/19)

Relevant Documents:
Staff Draft of Cobell Settlement Bill (Posted by ITMA)

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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