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FEDERALhearing transcript

Senate Hearing on Tribal Water Rights and Economic Development

Original title: S. 2154, S. 3060, AND S. 3168

January 1, 2018

water rightstribal sovereigntyeconomic developmentalcohol regulationinfrastructure funding

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The Frame

What this does

The hearing addresses the legal status of tribal water rights and the potential for economic development through the repeal of outdated federal prohibitions on alcohol manufacturing.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Kickapoo Tribe

The tribe is the subject of a water rights settlement agreement that would be authorized by S. 2154.

Tribal governments

Tribes would be permitted to operate distilleries on their lands if S. 3060 is enacted.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2018.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs held a hearing to discuss three bills concerning tribal water rights settlements and the removal of federal restrictions on alcohol production on tribal lands. The proposed legislation aims to settle specific water claims, provide permanent funding for water infrastructure, and repeal an 1834 law prohibiting distilleries in .

Key Facts

  • S. 2154 would confirm the Kickapoo Tribe's water right of 4,705 acre-feet of water per year.
  • S. 2154 requires the Kickapoo Tribe to pass a tribal water code within three years of enactment.
  • S. 2154 directs the Secretary of Agriculture and Secretary of the Interior to study the Upper Delaware and Tributaries Watershed project.
  • S. 3060 seeks to repeal an 1834 federal law prohibiting the operation of distilleries on Indian lands.
  • S. 3168 proposes to extend the Indian Water Rights Settlement Fund in perpetuity.
  • The Indian Water Rights Settlement Fund is currently used to pay for water supply infrastructure projects.
  • There is a $1.6 billion backlog to complete five currently authorized Indian water rights settlements.
  • The Indian Water Rights Settlement Fund is scheduled to come online in 2020.
  • H.R. 5317 is the House companion bill to S. 3060 and was reported favorably by the House Natural Resources Committee on May 24, 2018.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does S. 3060 change regarding alcohol on tribal lands?
It would repeal an 1834 law that currently prohibits the creation or operation of distilleries on Indian lands.
How much water is the Kickapoo Tribe entitled to under S. 2154?
The bill would confirm a water right of 4,705 of water per year.
What is the purpose of the Indian Water Rights Settlement Fund?
It provides funding for water supply infrastructure projects as outlined in congressionally-approved water rights settlement agreements.

Why It Matters

The hearing addresses the legal status of tribal water rights and the potential for economic development through the repeal of outdated federal prohibitions on alcohol manufacturing.

News Coverage

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Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Modernization of 19th Century Law

The committee is actively working to repeal 1834-era statutes that restrict modern economic activities like distilling on tribal lands.

S. 3060

Connected Entities

organizationConfederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation“Represented by Chairman Harry Pickernell”Map →
organizationKickapoo Tribe“Subject of S. 2154 water rights settlement”Map →
personJohn Hoeven“Chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs”Map →
personTom Udall“Vice Chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance65
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy20
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz15
    Current news / social attention level

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