"The Obama White House and Congress are compounding two historic grievances as they fumble around trying to multitask settlement offers that need legislative endorsement. All they have accomplished is missed deadlines.

In December, a settlement opportunity appeared in a lawsuit filed in 1996 over the U.S. government's handling of individual Indian trust accounts. Years of legal battles revealed the Interior Department and the U.S. Treasury failed to oversee, collect and pay billions in royalties from grazing fees and oil and gas leases.

Congress needs to approve the agreement, appropriate the $3.4 billion settlement, return the deal to federal court for approval, and launch the long process of individuals filing claims and receiving payments. Approximately 300,000 tribe members would divide $1.4 billion. The balance would be used to buy back and consolidate land claims.

Earlier this month, the federal judge overseeing the case implored Congress to act on the settlement."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Justice delayed in two stalled legal settlements (The Seattle Times 4/27)

Relevant Documents:
Agreement | Press Release | Q&A | Audio

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