[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 126 (Wednesday, August 5, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S6390]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. BOXER (for herself and Mrs. Feinstein):
  S. 1983. 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 reintroduce the Pechanga 
Band of Luiseno Mission Indians Water Rights Settlement Act of 2013. 
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 United States 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 United States on their behalf, and 
several California water districts, including the Rancho California 
Water District, Eastern Municipal Water District, and the Metropolitan 
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 watershed wide solution that 
protects the rights of the Pechanga while providing greater certainty 
and resources to the management of the basin's water supplies.
  I am pleased to be joined by Senator Feinstein in introducing 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 collaborative solutions.
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