Almost all of Arizona's Congressional delegation has united behind Representative Juan Ciscomani's (R-AZ) Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement, which he recently reintroduced to Congress.
As we covered last July, the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement improves the provision of clean water to the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, thereby spurring economic growth in the region through the authorization and construction of water-related infrastructure.
Another provision of the agreement introduced by Representative Eli Crane (R-AZ) is the official designation of a homeland for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, the only federally recognized Tribe in Arizona without one.
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"This legislation ratifies the historic Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement to provide access to clean and reliable water to the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, and the Southern San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe," said Rep. Ciscomani in his press release, adding, "This not only gives much-needed certainty to the Tribes, but it also invests in water infrastructure across the region that will enable our state to plan for a more sustainable and resilient future."
Rep. Crane, the bill's cosponsor, said, "As the representative for the impacted communities, I appreciate the dedication of Tribal leaders, in addition to State, County, and city officials in the district, to make this agreement a reality. I look forward to working with my colleagues to push this meaningful solution across the finish line."
The Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement has strong bipartisan and bicameral support from Arizona's congressional delegation. Representatives David Schweikert (R-AZ), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), Greg Stanton (D-AZ), and Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) cosponsor Ciscomani's House bill, while Senators Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) sponsor the Senate companion bill.
"For countless generations, Arizona's tribes have been caretakers of the Colorado River. But for too long, water rights disputes have prevented them from having full certainty around their water future. With this historic legislation, Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe will finally get the security and stability they deserve," said Sen. Gallego.
