I 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5478 

To improve the implementation of the settlement agreement reached between 

the Pueblo de Cochiti of New Mexico and the Corps of Engineers, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 14, 2016 

Mr. BEN RAY LUJA ́N of New Mexico (for himself and Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN

GRISHAM of New Mexico) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the 

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of 

such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To improve the implementation of the settlement agreement 

reached between the Pueblo de Cochiti of New Mexico 

and the Corps of Engineers, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Pueblo de Cochiti Self5 Governance Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS. 

2 (a) GENERAL AUTHORIZATION.—Section 1 of Public 

3 Law 102–358 (106 Stat. 960; 118 Stat. 543) is amend4 ed— 

5 (1) by striking paragraph (2); 

6 (2) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘; and’’ at the 

7 end and inserting a period; 

8 (3) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)— 

9 (A) by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and in10 serting the following: 

11 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’; and 

12 (B) by striking ‘‘implement—’’ and all 

13 that follows through ‘‘the settlement’’ in para14 graph (1) and inserting ‘‘implement the settle15 ment’’; and 

16 (4) by adding at the end the following: 

17 ‘‘(b) RATIFICATION.—Congress ratifies and approves 

18 the modifications regarding the use of the settlement 

19 funds and transfer of responsibility for the drainage sys20 tem, as described in the agreement known as ‘Amendment 

21 to the Settlement Agreement for Implementation of 

22 Cochiti Wetfields Solution’, executed on— 

23 ‘‘(1) October 15, 2015, by the Department of 

24 the Interior; 

25 ‘‘(2) October 21, 2015, by the Corps of Engi26 neers; and 


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1 ‘‘(3) October 27, 2015, by the Pueblo de 

2 Cochiti of New Mexico.’’. 

3 (b) DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY.—Section 2 of Pub4 lic Law 102–358 (106 Stat. 960) is amended to read as 

5 follows: 

6 ‘‘SEC. 2. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. 

7 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with the settle8 ment agreement and pursuant to the government-to-gov9 ernment relationship between the United States and the 

10 Pueblo de Cochiti of New Mexico and the modifications 

11 to the settlement agreement under section 1(b), the Pueb12 lo de Cochiti of New Mexico, as an exercise of self-deter13 mination, assumes any and all legal and financial respon14 sibility for the operation, maintenance, repair, and re15 placement of the drainage system. 

16 ‘‘(b) NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR DRAINAGE SYSTEM.— 

17 The United States shall have no further legal or financial 

18 responsibility for the operation, maintenance, repair, or re19 placement of the drainage system. 

20 ‘‘(c) RELEASE FROM LIABILITY.—Effective begin21 ning on the date on which the Pueblo de Cochiti of New 

22 Mexico assumes all legal and financial responsibility for 

23 the operation, maintenance, repair, and replacement of the 

24 drainage system under subsection (a), the Pueblo de 

25 Cochiti of New Mexico, on behalf of the Pueblo de Cochiti 


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1 of New Mexico and the members of the Pueblo de Cochiti 

2 of New Mexico, waives and releases the United States 

3 from all past, present, and future liability for any claim 

4 relating to the operation, maintenance, repair, or replace5 ment of the drainage system.’’. 

Æ 


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