Senate Indian Affairs Committee to Consider Five Tribal Water Rights Settlement Bills

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaiʻi), the committee’s vice chair, will convene a legislative hearing on Wednesday, July 29, at 2:30 p.m. ET to consider five bills related to Tribal water rights settlements and implementation.

The committee will receive testimony on:

• S. 3573, which would amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act by extending certain deadlines for completion of the Regional Water System and making other technical changes.
• S. 3617, the Yavapai-Apache Nation Water Rights Settlement Act of 2026.
• S. 4368, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Water Rights Settlement Act.
• S. 4417, the Pechanga Band of Indians Water Rights Settlement Technical Amendments Act.
• S. 4890, the Protecting Indian Water Rights Settlements Act of 2026.

The hearing will feature two panels of witnesses. The first panel includes U.S. Senators Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.).

The second panel will include Scott Cameron, principal deputy assistant secretary for Water and Science at the U.S. Department of the Interior; Yavapai-Apache Nation Chairman Buddy Rocha Jr.; Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Chairman Jeff Grubbe; and Pechanga Band of Indians Council Member Catalina Chacon.

Witness testimony will be available on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs website at the start of the hearing. The proceedings will be webcast live, and an archived video will be posted shortly after the hearing concludes.

Hearing Details

What: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs legislative hearing on Tribal water rights settlement legislation (S. 3573, S. 3617, S. 4368, S. 4417, and S. 4890)

When: Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. ET

Where: Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 628

Watch live on the Committee website.

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