BONO MACK'S LANDMARK WATER SETTLEMENT BILL PASSES HOUSE
California Political Desk
May 22, 2008
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack (CA-45) today praised House passage of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians Settlement Act of 2007, H.R. 4841. The bill, introduced by Bono Mack last year, would resolve an ongoing lawsuit over water resources in Riverside County and create new sources of water for local residents. Bono Mack´s legislation is broadly supported by local leaders and residents, including the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians, the City of Hemet, the City of San Jacinto, the Metropolitan Water District, Lake Hemet Water District, and Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD). Bono Mack´s bill passed in the House of Representatives today by a voice vote.
"Passage of this bill today is a strong step forward not only for the Soboba Tribe, but also for residents of Southwest Riverside County," said Bono Mack. "From cultivating crops to sustaining life, water is a vital resource for any community – especially in Southern California. I am pleased that an end is finally in sight for the people who have been so tragically affected by this ongoing water dispute.
"This bill is the direct result of many years of hard work and time invested by the Tribe, our local water districts, and local leaders. I praise their collaborative efforts, and I am proud to offer this comprehensive bill that will bring needed relief to the Tribe and local residents."
The Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians Settlement Act, among its provisions, will provide long-term sustainability of the San Jacinto River Valley's water supply by bringing new sources of water to local residents. The bill will also assist both the Tribe and local residents with critical water infrastructure needs, according to Bono Mack.
Robert Salgado, Sr., Chairman of the Soboba Tribe, said, "This is an important and historic milestone for Soboba. This settlement will usher in a new era for the Soboba people by ensuring a sustainable and independent homeland for our Tribe and bring to a close a 70 year old struggle over our Tribe´s water resources. On behalf of the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians, I wish to thank Representatives Mary Bono Mack, Joe Baca and Jerry Lewis, as well as, our other Congressional supporters for their leadership in passing the historic Soboba Settlement from the House today."
"This settlement resolves 75 years of litigation over the Tribe's water rights and begins the process of ensuring the sustainability of the groundwater basins into the future," said Randy Record, Board Member of EMWD, one of the parties to this settlement agreement.
Specifically, H.R. 4841 resolves a lawsuit currently pending in the United States District Court in California – Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians v. Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Background: In 1932, Metropolitan Water District´s San Jacinto Tunnel was constructed in order to transport water from the Colorado River to portions of southern California. However, this Tunnel drained the water from the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians´ reservation. The lawsuit, filed in April 2000, sought damages and injunctive relief for the continuing drainage of water from the Tribe´s Reservation into the Tunnel. Bono Mack´s legislation would ratify the settlement reached by the Tribe, Metropolitan Water District, EMWD and Lake Hemet Municipal Water District.
"Passage of this bill today is a strong step forward not only for the Soboba Tribe, but also for residents of Southwest Riverside County," said Bono Mack. "From cultivating crops to sustaining life, water is a vital resource for any community – especially in Southern California. I am pleased that an end is finally in sight for the people who have been so tragically affected by this ongoing water dispute.
"This bill is the direct result of many years of hard work and time invested by the Tribe, our local water districts, and local leaders. I praise their collaborative efforts, and I am proud to offer this comprehensive bill that will bring needed relief to the Tribe and local residents."
The Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians Settlement Act, among its provisions, will provide long-term sustainability of the San Jacinto River Valley's water supply by bringing new sources of water to local residents. The bill will also assist both the Tribe and local residents with critical water infrastructure needs, according to Bono Mack.
Robert Salgado, Sr., Chairman of the Soboba Tribe, said, "This is an important and historic milestone for Soboba. This settlement will usher in a new era for the Soboba people by ensuring a sustainable and independent homeland for our Tribe and bring to a close a 70 year old struggle over our Tribe´s water resources. On behalf of the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians, I wish to thank Representatives Mary Bono Mack, Joe Baca and Jerry Lewis, as well as, our other Congressional supporters for their leadership in passing the historic Soboba Settlement from the House today."
"This settlement resolves 75 years of litigation over the Tribe's water rights and begins the process of ensuring the sustainability of the groundwater basins into the future," said Randy Record, Board Member of EMWD, one of the parties to this settlement agreement.
Specifically, H.R. 4841 resolves a lawsuit currently pending in the United States District Court in California – Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians v. Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Background: In 1932, Metropolitan Water District´s San Jacinto Tunnel was constructed in order to transport water from the Colorado River to portions of southern California. However, this Tunnel drained the water from the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians´ reservation. The lawsuit, filed in April 2000, sought damages and injunctive relief for the continuing drainage of water from the Tribe´s Reservation into the Tunnel. Bono Mack´s legislation would ratify the settlement reached by the Tribe, Metropolitan Water District, EMWD and Lake Hemet Municipal Water District.
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