A view of Pyramid Lake in Nevada. Photo from Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe
The House approved two tribal-specific bills on Monday. By a voice vote, the House passed H.R.4924, the Bill Williams River Water Rights Settlement Act. The bill ensures that the Hualapai Tribe of Arizona and tribal allottees have sufficient access to water and it resolves a dispute that arose involving a nearby mining operation. "H.R. 4924 is important legislation that will facilitate a fair and equitable settlement of certain claims within the Bill Williams Watershed in Arizona amongst the Hualapai Tribe; Freeport-McMoRan, a mining company; the Arizona Game and Fish Commission; and the Federal Government," Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Arizona) said on the floor. "My bill is good for property owners, good for local economies and jobs, settles an outstanding water rights dispute, and will result in a net water benefit to the basin." H.R. 2455, the Nevada Native Nations Lands Act, also passed by a voice vote. The bill places 45,000 acres in trust for seven tribes. "This bill does housekeeping things that we should all be happy to have been part of finally finishing up," Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nevada) said on the floor. "With checkerboard reservations, you have multiple issues of law enforcement--you are on the reservation, you are off the reservation--economic development, jobs for some of the most economically-challenged cultures in our nation, multiple use, cultural resource protection, all those sorts of things which I am proud to be associated with." Both bills await action in the Senate. Since the 113th Congress ends soon, that chamber would need to act quickly in order for both to become law. The House considered two other bills yesterday -- S.2040, the Blackfoot River Land Exchange Act, and H.R.5050, the May 31, 1918 Act Repeal Act -- that benefit the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of Idaho. Final votes weren't taken so action is likely today or before the end of the week. H.R.4329, a bill to reauthorize the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act, is still on today's schedule, according to the House majority leader.
Related Stories
House returns to work this week to consider
several tribal bills (12/1) House to consider bill to reauthorize Indian housing programs (11/28)
House Natural Resources Committee passes three tribal bills (11/21)
House Natural Resources Committee markup on two tribal bills (6/18)
Senate Indian Affairs Committee passes seven bills at meeting (5/21)
Join the Conversation
