S. 2494 would provide for equitable compensation to the Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation for the use of tribal land for the production of hydropower by the Grand Coulee Dam.
Detailed Summary
Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation Grand Coulee Dam Equitable Compensation Settlement Act - Establishes in the Treasury the Spokane Tribe of Indians Settlement Fund.
Requires the payment of compensation to the Spokane Business Council for the use of tribal lands for the generation of hydropower from the Grand Coulee Dam.
Requires the use of such funds, in part, for a Cultural Resource Repository and Interpretive Center concerning the culture and history of the Spokane Tribe.
Directs the Administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration to make specified settlement payments to the Spokane Tribe.
Allows payments made to the Spokane Business Council or Spokane Tribe to be used or invested by the Business Council in the same manner and for the same purposes as other Spokane Tribal governmental funds.
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to transfer administrative jurisdiction from the Bureau of Reclamation to the Bureau of Indian Affairs over certain land located within the exterior boundaries of the Spokane Indian Reservation.
Provides that payments by the Secretary and the Administrator and restoration of ownership of land in trust constitute full satisfaction of the claim of the Spokane Tribe to a fair share of the annual hydropower revenues generated by the Grand Coulee Dam project for the past and continued use of land of the Spokane Tribe for the production of hydropower at Grand Coulee Dam.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 9/9/2008: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 948.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
wellpinit girl
this should be passed for sure who ever denies it is racist. In my eyes. we got so much taken from us.
Kat R.
I think that it is a simple answer for most people who are not indian to say no to compensation to tribes. I also see that thinking that compensation is not owed not well thought through and can be considered selfish. Tribes were promised so much and when the govenment did not honor these agreements and the tribes suffered, all of a sudden the tribes "lost the war against them". I have heard individuals say that indians should get over it. I say this. If someone came into the home you own and shoved you in the bathroom and said to you, " this is where you will live now and I am going to live in the rest of the house and you should be happy about it" Do you think that would be right? Or would you fight for what is rightfully yours??
Kat R.
Aside from compensation being what is right, the government has a trust responsibility to watch over our lands, much like a guardian over a child. A parent would not allow their children to be taken advantage of and a good parent would make sure to give their children everything due them.