VIDEO: Heinrich, Luján Tribal Water Rights Settlement Legislation Receives Key Hearing
WASHINGTON – The OhkayOwingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act and Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act, Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act, and Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act legislation championed by U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and cosponsored by U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) received a key hearing before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs today.
During his remarks, Heinrich discussed his Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act, “This settlement will provide critically needed funding for water infrastructure to develop and distribute new water to Pueblo homes and businesses. It will make it possible for OhkayOwingehto finally use the water that they have owned for more than a century.”
Heinrich continued, “In recent decades, Congress has worked through this very committee to make real progress on making Tribes whole for the water that has always been theirs. We have an opportunity to take yet another step on that by approving this settlement.”
During his remarks, Luján introduced Thora Padilla, President of Mescalero Apache Tribe. Luján said, “I have the honor of introducing President Thora Padilla of the Mescalero Apache as a witness for today’s hearing. She has served as President since January 12, 2024. In her short time as President, Pres. Padilla has already demonstrated her leadership and dedication to the Mescalero Apache and our state of New Mexico.
“I am proud to work with her back home and I am proud to have her here in Washington to make thing better for our Tribal communities and our state. I look forward to her testimony,” he continued.
In June, Heinrich and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) introduced the Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act,legislation to approve the water rights settlement of OhkayOwingeh and participating non-Tribal parties for water in the Rio Chama Basin.Luján is an original cosponsor of this bill.
Last December, Luján and Leger Fernández introduced the Technical Corrections to the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act, Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act, and Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act,which authorizes the appropriation of $6.3 million for the Navajo Nation Water Resources Development Fund; $7.8 million for the Taos Pueblo Water Development Fund; and $4.3 million for the Aamodt Settlement Pueblos’ Fund, which covers Nambé, Pojoaque, San Ildefonso, and Tesuque Pueblos. It will support water resources development projects for the Tribes. Senator Heinrich is an original cosponsor of this bill. Heinrich is an original cosponsor of this bill.
Last June, Heinrich, Luján, Leger Fernández, and U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) introduced legislation that amends the Navajo Gallup Water Supply Projectto ensure it has the resources and time needed to deliver drinking water to northwestern New Mexico communities in the San Juan basin, including roughly 43 Chapters on the Eastern Navajo Nation, the southwestern portion of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, and the City of Gallup, which currently rely on a rapidly depleting groundwater supply of poor quality.
Last March, Heinrich and Leger Fernández also introduced the Rio San José and Rio Jemez Water Settlements Actto implement two fund-based water settlements: one between the Pueblos of Jemez and Zia, the United States, the State of New Mexico, and non-Tribal parties; and another between the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna, the United States, the State of New Mexico, and non-Tribal parties. The settlements are also strongly supported by all parties involved. Senator Luján is an original cosponsor of this bill.
Additionally, last year, the entire New Mexico Congressional Delegation announced a $235.1 million allocationto continue fulfilling settlements of Indian water rights claims using funding from the Infrastructure Law and the Reclamation Water Settlements Fund. As part of that overall allocation, the Navajo-Gallup Water Project received $164 million from the Infrastructure Law and the Reclamation Water Settlements Fund. Another $2 million was directed to Navajo-Gallup Water supply operations, maintenanceand replacement efforts. The Aamodt Water Rights Settlement, which includes the Pueblos of Nambé, Pojoaque, San Ildefonso, and Tesuque, received $69.1 million in federal funding from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
