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Opening statement of Chairman Daniel K. Akaka
Thu, October 20, 2011
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
Legislative hearing on bills addressing Tribal water leasing, a water rights settlement, the designation of a new trustee for the Utah Navajo Trust Fund, and a settlement for the use of Tribal land to generate hydropower
The Committee will come to order. Aloha! Today the Committee will hold a legislative hearing on four bills dealing with issues that will have significant impacts on the ability of tribes to control and use their own resources.
Two of these bills deal with water. The Committee held a roundtable discussion in June on Tribal water issues. What we heard from tribal leaders was that tribal access to - and control over - water resources is instrumental in supporting tribal self-determination and self-governance.
The third bill deals with the transfer of authority over a trust fund put in place to benefit the Navajo People. The final bill would compensate a tribe for the use of its land by the federal government to produce hydropower.
The first bill, S. 134, "the Mescalero Apache Tribe Leasing Authorization Act," was introduced by Senators Bingaman and Udall. I am pleased that we have Senator Bingaman here with us today to testify on this bill -- and I am sure Senator Udall will also have more to say about this important bill during his opening statement.
The second bill we will consider is S. 399, "the Blackfeet Water Rights Settlement Act of 2011." Senators Tester and Baucus have been working hard on this bill for several years, so today the Committee will be able to learn about the progress made as a result of their joint efforts.
The third bill we will consider, S. 1327, deals with the transfer of authority over the Utah Navajo Trust Fund. This bill was introduced by Senator Hatch. I look forward to hearing testimony from those on both sides of the issue.
Finally, we will consider S. 1345, a bill that was introduced by Senators Cantwell and Murray. This bill would provide fair and just compensation to the Spokane Tribe - whose land was used by the United States for the development of hydropower, but was never fairly compensated for that use.
Today we will hear from the Administration, the affected tribes and other parties to the legislation. I encourage any other interested parties to submit written comments to the Committee. The hearing record will remain open for two weeks from today.
I want to again express a warm mahalo - thank you - to the witnesses at today's hearing. I want to thank the Administration for providing their views on these bills. And I especially want to thank the tribal representatives and affected parties.
It is very important for the Committee to hear from all of you as we decide how to move forward on these bills.
Legislative hearing on bills addressing Tribal water leasing, a water rights settlement, the designation of a new trustee for the Utah Navajo Trust Fund, and a settlement for the use of Tribal land to generate hydropower
The Committee will come to order. Aloha! Today the Committee will hold a legislative hearing on four bills dealing with issues that will have significant impacts on the ability of tribes to control and use their own resources.
Two of these bills deal with water. The Committee held a roundtable discussion in June on Tribal water issues. What we heard from tribal leaders was that tribal access to - and control over - water resources is instrumental in supporting tribal self-determination and self-governance.
The third bill deals with the transfer of authority over a trust fund put in place to benefit the Navajo People. The final bill would compensate a tribe for the use of its land by the federal government to produce hydropower.
The first bill, S. 134, "the Mescalero Apache Tribe Leasing Authorization Act," was introduced by Senators Bingaman and Udall. I am pleased that we have Senator Bingaman here with us today to testify on this bill -- and I am sure Senator Udall will also have more to say about this important bill during his opening statement.
The second bill we will consider is S. 399, "the Blackfeet Water Rights Settlement Act of 2011." Senators Tester and Baucus have been working hard on this bill for several years, so today the Committee will be able to learn about the progress made as a result of their joint efforts.
The third bill we will consider, S. 1327, deals with the transfer of authority over the Utah Navajo Trust Fund. This bill was introduced by Senator Hatch. I look forward to hearing testimony from those on both sides of the issue.
Finally, we will consider S. 1345, a bill that was introduced by Senators Cantwell and Murray. This bill would provide fair and just compensation to the Spokane Tribe - whose land was used by the United States for the development of hydropower, but was never fairly compensated for that use.
Today we will hear from the Administration, the affected tribes and other parties to the legislation. I encourage any other interested parties to submit written comments to the Committee. The hearing record will remain open for two weeks from today.
I want to again express a warm mahalo - thank you - to the witnesses at today's hearing. I want to thank the Administration for providing their views on these bills. And I especially want to thank the tribal representatives and affected parties.
It is very important for the Committee to hear from all of you as we decide how to move forward on these bills.
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