[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 26, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S255]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. BOXER (for herself and Mrs. Feinstein):
  S. 2956. A bill to authorize the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission 
Indians Water Rights Settlement, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Indian Affairs.
  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce the Pechanga 
Band of Luiseno Mission Indians Water Rights Settlement Act. This 
legislation will implement a settlement concerning the water rights of 
the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians, who have been engaged for 
several decades in a struggle for recognition and protection of their 
federally reserved groundwater rights.
  Since 1951, the Pechanga have been involved in litigation initiated 
by the U.S. concerning water rights in the Santa Margarita watershed. 
The Pechanga's interest has been in protecting their groundwater 
supplies, which are shared with municipal developments in the San Diego 
region. Beginning in 2006, the Pechanga worked with local water 
districts to negotiate a cooperative solution and put an end to their 
dispute.
  The Pechanga Settlement Agreement is a comprehensive agreement 
negotiated among the Pechanga, the U.S. on their behalf, and several 
California water districts, including the Rancho California Water 
District and Eastern Municipal Water District. The settlement 
recognizes the Pechanga's tribal water right to 4994 acre-feet of water 
per year and outlines a series of measures to guarantee this amount. It 
is a win-win solution that protects the rights of the Pechanga while 
ensuring that other communities in Southern California will also have 
sufficient water supplies.
  I am pleased to be joined by Senator Feinstein in introducing this 
legislation. We have worked with our colleagues in the House, including 
Representatives Bono Mack, Grijalva, Richardson, Calvert, Baca, and 
Issa, to craft this legislation. Our bill not only provides the 
Pechanga with long-overdue assurances of their water rights, but also 
exemplifies all the good that can be accomplished when parties put 
aside their differences and come to the table to negotiate a reasonable 
solution.

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