Senate Committee on Indian Affairs sets hearing on water rights - Indianz.Com

The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs is meeting to focus on tribal water rights, including a bill to settle a long-running dispute in Arizona.

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News> Senate Committee on Indian Affairs sets hearing on water rights

Colorado River

Oleg Chursin

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs sets hearing on water rights

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Indianz.Com

The Senate Committee on Indian Affairsis meeting to focus on tribal water rights, including a bill to settle a long-running dispute in Arizona. At an

oversight hearing and legislative hearing on Wednesday afternoon, the committee will take testimony about tribal water rights in general. The

Department of the Interioris sending an official to discuss the policy of President Donald Trump and his administration. The committee is also taking testimony on

S.953, the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025. The

bipartisan bill settles the water rightsof the

Hopi Tribe, the

Navajo Nationand the

San Juan Southern Paiute Tribein the

Colorado River basin in northeastern Arizona. “This is a historic moment for the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. After years of hard work and collaboration, we’re delivering a water settlement that secures reliable, clean water and strengthens Tribal sovereignty,” said

Sen. Mark Kelly(D-Arizona), who introduced S.953 a year ago on March 11, 2025. “I’m proud to have worked alongside Tribal leaders and introduced this legislation last year and I will keep working with my colleagues to get this done and deliver on our promises to these communities,” Kelly added.

The Honorable Mark Kelly

Senator from Arizona

Sponsor of S.953 PANEL 2

Mr. Scott Cameron

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary – Water and Science

Exercising the Delegated Authority of Commissioner

Bureau of Reclamation

Department of the Interior

Washington, DC

The Honorable Buu Nygren

President

Navajo Nation

Window Rock, Arizona

The Honorable Lamar Keevama

Chairman

Hopi Tribe

Kykotsmovi Village, Arizona

The Honorable Johnny Lehi Jr.

Vice President

San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe

Tuba City, Arizona The hearing will be

broadcast at indian.senate.gov. The stream goes live shortly before the start of the hearing on Wednesday. The committee’s last major water rights hearings took place in

July 2024and

September 2024, during the 118th Congress. A

prior version of the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Actwas being considered at that time. At the hearings, officials from the administration of then-president Joe Biden, a Democrat, expressed support for settling tribal water rights claims, calling it part of the trust and treaty obligations of the United States government.

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Notice

Oversight Hearing on “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(March 11, 2026)

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