East Idaho Times

U.S. Senators Mike Crapo, Catherine Cortez Masto, Jim Risch, and Jacky Rosen have reintroduced the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation Water Rights Settlement Act. This legislation aims to allow the Tribes to collect over $5 million in interest owed from a 2009 water rights settlement.

Senator Crapo emphasized the importance of addressing this issue, stating, "This much-needed fix takes the next step in upholding the federal government’s full interest terms of the 2009 settlement with the Duck Valley Reservation." He urged both chambers of Congress to act swiftly to resolve this matter.

Senator Cortez Masto criticized the delay in payment, saying, "It is absurd that the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation have had to go nearly two decades without millions of dollars in interest they are owed." She described her legislation as a "commonsense, bipartisan" solution to an oversight that has persisted for years.

Senator Rosen expressed pride in supporting this initiative, noting that it seeks to ensure that the Tribes receive their long-overdue payment. "The Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation deserve the millions of dollars in interest they are owed," she stated.

Senator Risch highlighted a mistake in excluding interest payments from the original settlement. He joined his colleagues in advocating for legislative action to rectify this issue and provide proper compensation to the Tribes.

The bill had previously passed unanimously in the Senate but did not progress in the House of Representatives.