The Senate Indian Affairs Committee held its first legislative hearing of the 113th Congress this afternoon.

The committee considered S.434, the Blackfeet Water Rights Settlement Act. The bill ratifies a water rights compact between the Blackfeet Nation and the state of Montana.

The Obama administration supports the settlement, Assistant Secretary Kevin Washburn, the head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, told the committee. He identified some outstanding issues that he believes can be resolved.

The committee also took testimony on S.611, the Sandia Pueblo Settlement Technical Amendment Act. The bill authorizes a land exchange between Sandia Pueblo and the federal government in an area that was created Congress by the T'uf Shur Bien Preservation Trust Area Act of 2003.

The Obama administration supports the bill, Cal Joyner, the Associate Deputy Chief at the U.S. Forest Service, testified. He identified an alternative method of transferring the land that could make it easier.

Audio of the hearing can be downloaded below:

Committee Notice:
LEGISLATIVE HEARING to receive testimony on the following bills: S. 434, S. 611 (May 8, 2013)

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