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Cole Comments on Cobell Settlement Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Tom Cole (OK-04) today released the following statement after House passage of H.R. 4783, the Claims Resolution Act of 2010. The legislation provides for the settlement of a 14-year-old class action suit in which over 500,000 American Indians sought an accounting of mismanaged trust accounts held by the United States for the benefit of individual Indian beneficiaries. The legislation passed the Senate on November 19 by unanimous consent, and a similar measure has twice passed the House.


"This legislation brings a fair and responsible resolution to the Cobell case and is a great bargain for American taxpayers. Today's approval of the Cobell settlement is a historic development for Native American communities, which will finally receive just compensation for decades of unfair government mismanagement of their lands. The Cobell settlement helps correct a historic wrong and ensures that Native Americans enjoy the full benefit of tribal lands and resources. The bill is fully paid for and will save taxpayers millions in additional costly litigation. After 14 years of negotiations, I am hopeful that the settlement will be implemented quickly and efficiently."

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