HR5842NOV17

TheWeekInCongress.com (TM)

Week Ending November 17, 2006

H.R.5842 To compromise and settle all claims in the case of Pueblo of Isleta v. United States, to restore, improve, and develop the valuable on-reservation land and natural resources of the Pueblo, and for other purposes.

Pueblo Indians have a lawsuit filed against the US that, Congress having studied the matter, has merit and should be settled. A fund would be established in the US Treasury for the settlement of the claims, acquisition, restoration, improvement and development and protection of land, natural resources and cultural resources within the periphery of the Pueblo.

Water sodden land would be drained, and returned to the Rio Grande River, forest land would be remediated to improve timber harvest and grazing and prevent forest fires and erosion. The cost of the claims would be settled.

The restoration fund will receive $32,828,750 and an appropriation of $7.5 million. The funds would be used as such: $14.3 million for drainage and forest remediation .

Sponsor: Rep. Stevan Pearce (R-NM-2^nd)

Vote: Passed House by voice vote September 27, 2006. Passed Senate by Unanimous Consent November 13, 2006.

Cost to the taxpayers: $7.5 million would be appropriated. The remainder would be transferred from trust.

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MORE INFORMATION

(a) Findings- Congress finds that--

(1) there is pending before the United States Court of Federal Claims a civil action filed by the Pueblo against the United States in which the Pueblo seeks to recover damages pursuant to the Isleta Jurisdictional Act;

(2) the Pueblo and the United States, after a diligent investigation of the Pueblo claims, have negotiated a Settlement Agreement, the validity and effectiveness of which is contingent on the enactment of enabling legislation;

(3) certain land of the Pueblo is waterlogged, and it would be to the benefit of the Pueblo and other water users to drain the land and return water to the Rio Grande River; and

(4) there is Pueblo forest land in need of remediation in order to improve timber yields, reduce the threat of fire, reduce erosion, and improve grazing conditions.

(b) Purposes- The purposes of this Act are--

(1) to improve the drainage of the irrigated land, the health of the forest land, and other natural resources of the Pueblo; and

(2) to settle all claims that were raised or could have been raised by the Pueblo against the United States under the Isleta Jurisdictional Act in accordance with section 5.

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