[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 248 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 248

  Expressing the Sense of the Senate concerning the individual Indian 
                   money account trust fund lawsuit.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 21, 2003

Mr. Campbell (for himself, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Domenici, and Ms. Stabenow) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                           on Indian Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the Sense of the Senate concerning the individual Indian 
                   money account trust fund lawsuit.

Whereas, in exchange for ceding hundreds of millions of acres of land and other 
        valuable consideration by Indian tribes, the United States was obligated 
        to protect Indian funds and resources;
Whereas, since the 19th century, the United States has held Indian funds and 
        resources in trust for the benefit of Indians;
Whereas the Senate reaffirms that in continuing to hold and manage Indian funds 
        and resources for the benefit of the Indians, the United States should 
        act in accordance with the highest fiduciary standards;
Whereas, in 1996, a class action was brought against the United States seeking a 
        historical accounting of balances of individual Indian money accounts;
Whereas after 8 years of litigation and the expenditure of hundreds of millions 
        of dollars in Federal funds, the Senate believes that continued 
        litigation will not provide significant benefits to, or serve the 
        interests of, the members of the class; and
Whereas, subsequent to the filing of the class action, the Indians and the 
        United States have tried without success to reach settlement of the 
        Indian claims: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,

SECTION 1. SENSE OF THE SENATE.

    It is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) the interests of Indians and the United States would 
        best be served by a voluntary alternative claims resolution 
        process that will lead to a full, fair, and final settlement of 
        potential individual Indian money account claims; and
            (2) legislation is necessary to establish a voluntary 
        alternative claims resolution process and achieve a full, fair, 
        and final settlement of potential individual Indian money 
        account claims.
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