Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) released the following statements after passing the bipartisan Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation Water Rights Settlement Act. Cortez Masto’s legislation will allow the Tribes to collect over $5 million in interest they are owed for their 2009 water rights settlement, which left out commonplace interest payments. This bipartisan legislation now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.
“I’m thrilled the Senate passed my bipartisan legislation to make sure the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation collect the full funding they are owed from the federal government by fixing a technical oversight,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Tribes in Nevada know they can count on me, and I will keep working across the aisle to deliver them the tools they need to grow and support their communities.”
“The federal government must live up to its commitment and make sure the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation receive the money they are owed,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to have worked with Senator Cortez Masto to pass this bipartisan bill through the Senate to allow the Tribe to collect this funding, and we’ll continue working to ensure it becomes law.”
“On behalf of the Shoshone Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation, I want to thank Senators Cortez Masto, Crapo, Rosen and Risch for their work on behalf of the Tribes in securing Senate passage of S. 950,” said Shoshone-Paiute Tribal Chairman Brian Mason. “This legislation will restore the value of the trust funds provided to the Tribes to the level intended by Congress in our 2009 congressionally approved water settlement, and is an important step to fulfilling the economic potential of the Duck Valley Reservation.”
Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen have worked to support Nevada’s Tribal communities. Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen have passed critical legislation to permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which protects public lands in Nevada and across the country. They have been vocal supporters of the Avi Kwa Ame national monument in Southern Nevada and have both urged Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to support the creation of the Bahsahwahbee (or Swamp Cedars) National Monument in Eastern Nevada.
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