For Immediate Release
March 12, 2026
Contact:
Mike Inacay (Schatz) at michael_inacay@schatz.senate.gov
Hannah Ray (Murkowski) at hannah_ray@indian.senate.gov
SCHATZ, MURKOWSKI HOLD HEARING TO EXAMINE FEDERAL POLICY ON INDIAN WATER RIGHTS SETTLEMENTS
Committee Reviewed S. 953, the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025
Washington – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Chairman, held an oversight hearing titled, “Examining Federal Policies Governing Indian Water Rights Settlements,” and Legislative Hearing to receive testimony on S. 953, Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025.
“Congress’s obligation to consider legislation that codifies Indian water rights settlements is not optional. It’s the critical final step to ensure our trust responsibilities are met,” said Vice Chair Schatz. “I urge my colleagues to move pending settlements like S. 953 forward. Authorize them. Fund them. Give Tribes, states, and water users in these basins the certainty they need, not just for today, but for generations to come.”
“Indian water rights settlements are about more than resolving legal claims—they’re about honoring our trust responsibilities, strengthening tribal self-determination, and making sure Native communities finally have the infrastructure they need to secure reliable access to clean water.” said Chairman Murkowski. “Whatever the path forward, we have an obligation to find the resources to uphold our commitments to Tribal Nations so that they can build strong sustainable futures.”
Watch opening statements from Vice Chairman Schatz and Chairman Murkowski here.
Witnesses included:
PANEL 1
- THE HONORABLE MARK KELLY, U.S. Senator from Arizona
PANEL 2
- MR. SCOTT CAMERON, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary – Water and Science and Exercising the Delegated Authority of Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior, Washington, DC
- THE HONORABLE BUU NYGREN, President, Navajo Nation, Window Rock, AZ
- THE HONORABLE LAMAR KEEVAMA, Chairman, Hopi Tribe, Kykotsmovi Village, AZ
- THE HONORABLE JOHNNY LEHI, Vice President, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, Tuba City, AZ
Witness testimonies, as written, and an archived video of the hearing can be found here.
The Committee will continue to accept written testimony until March 25, 2026. Testimony may be submitted to testimony@indian.senate.gov.
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