Senate Committee on Indian Affairs schedules business meeting and hearing

Indianz.Com > News > Senate Committee on Indian Affairs schedules business meeting and hearing

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), left, and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) serve as vice chair and chair, respectively, of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Photo: SCIA

Monday, November 14, 2022

Indianz.Com

The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs is getting back to work after a lengthy absence.

The legislative panel with jurisdiction over Indian issues will hold a business meeting and legislative hearing on Wednesday afternoon. It’s the committee’s first gathering in the nation’s capital since a roundtable on September 21, almost two months ago, and since a recess preceding last week’s election.

Four items are on the agenda for the business meeting. Notably, three of them address tribal water issues in Arizona, where Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Arizona), just won re-election, ensuring Democratic control of the U.S. Senate in the next legislative session.

The bills being considered at the business meeting follow:

• S.3168, to amend the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification Act of 2010. The bill ensures that the White Mountain Apache Tribe can utilize its already enacted water rights settlement to complete a water project on the Fort Apache Reservation in the state of Arizona. A hearing took place on March 23.

• S.3308, the Colorado River Indian Tribes Water Resiliency Act of 2021. The bill ensures that the Colorado River Indian Tribes can utilize its previously ratified water rights from the Colorado River by leasing or allocating them to other entities in Arizona. A hearing took place on March 23.

• S.4104, the Hualapai Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2022. The bill ratifies a water rights settlement between the Haulapai Tribe, the state of Arizona and the federal government. A hearing took place on July 20.

• S.____, An original bill to amend the Not Invisible Act of 2019 to extend, and provide additional support for, the activities of the Department of the Interior and the Department of Justice in connection with the Joint Commission on Reducing Violent Crime Against Indians. The Not Invisible Act was enacted to addresses high rates of violence against American Indians and Alaska Natives, including the crisis of the missing and murdered. The bill number is not yet available.

The business meeting will be immediately followed by the legislative hearing. Three items are on the agenda — notably, all address tribal water issues in the West:

• S.4870, the Tule River Tribe Reserved Water Rights Settlement Act of 2022. The bill ratifies a water settlement involving the Tule River Tribe and the federal government.

• S.4896, the Pueblos of Jemez and Zia Water Rights Settlement Act of 2022. The bill ratifies a water settlement involving the Pueblo of Jemez, the Pueblo of Zia, the state of New Mexico, the federal government and non-Indian parties.

• S.4898, the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna Water Rights Settlement Act of 2022. The bill ratifies a water settlement involving the Pueblo of Acoma, the Pueblo of Laguna, the state of New Mexico, the federal government and non-Indian parties.

The business meeting and legislative hearing are scheduled to begin at 2:30pm Eastern in Room 628 of the Senate Dirksen Office Building.

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Notice

Business Meeting to consider S. 3168, S. 3308 & S.4104 and Legislative Hearing to receive testimony on S. 4870, S. 4896 & S. 4898 (November 16, 2022)