Tell the Senate: Stop Supporting the Abuse of Native Americans' Rights

For over a century, Native Americans have suffered gross injustices from the United States government. Congress now has until August 6 to authorize the Cobell Settlement, which will finally acknowledge the government’s continued abuse of Native land rights- a long overdue and crucial opportunity to begin healing the scars of our nation’s deplorable past (and present).

The $3.4  billion settlement ended a 14-year class-action lawsuit brought against the U.S. Department of Interior by some 300,000 Native American land owners, who argued that the government failed to pay them $42 billion in lease revenue collected by the government over the past 120 years.

After years of stalling, the government finally conceded and agreed to settle with the plaintiffs in December 2009. According to the lead plaintiff, Eloise Cobell, “there is little doubt this is significantly less than the full amount to which individual Indians are entitled.” Yet the plaintiffs agreed to the settlement, mostly out of desperation.

December marked an important milestone for Native Americans across the country, yet the settlement is useless without the congressional approval needed to enact the law and authorize implementation.

The settlement has passed multiple times in the House, but the Senate continues to block it. Most recently, the House attached the settlement to a war-funding bill to increase chances of approval in the Senate. On July 22 the Senate passed the war-funding bill, but made sure to strip the Cobell settlement from the bill first. It is now up to the House (again) to find another way to get this important legislation passed.

The deadline for congressional authorization has been extended five times, and with this latest deadline so close to the date Congress leaves for its August recess, this may be our last chance.

Tell Congress to act now to approve the Cobell Settlement before the August 6 deadline.

After a century of injustice, a 14-year legal battle, and seven months of delays in Congress, how much longer will the plaintiffs have to wait for justice?

Tell the Senate to stop blocking this crucial settlement! There can be no more excuses, no more delays. Congress must approve the Cobell Settlement now.

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