The Senate Indian Affairs Committee on Wednesday approved two bills to compensate South Dakota tribes for damages caused by the Missouri River.

S. 374, the Tribal Parity Act, adds money to the trust accounts of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe and the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe. Both tribes lost valuable land to government water projects on the river.

S. 1535, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Equitable Compensation Amendments Act, allows members of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe to gain access to a Missouri River trust fund.

The bills now heads to the full Senate for consideration.

Get the Story:
Bill gives funds to S.D. tribes (AP 8/3)

GAO Testimony:
Calculations for the Crow Creek Sioux and Lower Brule Sioux Tribes Differ from Approach Used in Prior GAO Reports (June 14, 2006)

Hearing Info:
Legislative Hearing on S. 374, the Tribal Parity Act, and S. 1535, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Equitable Compensation Amendments Act of 2005 (June 14, 2006)

Relevant Links:
Lower Brule Sioux Tribe - http://www.lbst.org/home.htm
Senate Indian Affairs Committee - http://indian.senate.gov

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