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 re-
ferred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be sub-
sequently 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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Pueblo de Cochiti Self- 
Governance Act’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:36 Jun 15, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5478.IH
H5478
smartinez on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS. 
(a) GENERAL AUTHORIZATION.—Section 1 of Public 
Law 102–358 (106 Stat. 960; 118 Stat. 543) is amend-
ed— 
(1) by striking paragraph (2); 
(2) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘; and’’ at the 
end and inserting a period; 
(3) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘implement—’’ and all 
that follows through ‘‘the settlement’’ in para-
graph (1) and inserting ‘‘implement the settle-
ment’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) RATIFICATION.—Congress ratifies and approves 
the modifications regarding the use of the settlement 
funds and transfer of responsibility for the drainage sys-
tem, as described in the agreement known as ‘Amendment 
to the Settlement Agreement for Implementation of 
Cochiti Wetfields Solution’, executed on— 
‘‘(1) October 15, 2015, by the Department of 
the Interior; 
‘‘(2) October 21, 2015, by the Corps of Engi-
neers; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:36 Jun 15, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5478.IH
H5478
smartinez on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
‘‘(3) October 27, 2015, by the Pueblo de 
Cochiti of New Mexico.’’. 
(b) DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY.—Section 2 of Pub-
lic Law 102–358 (106 Stat. 960) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘SEC. 2. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with the settle-
ment agreement and pursuant to the government-to-gov-
ernment relationship between the United States and the 
Pueblo de Cochiti of New Mexico and the modifications 
to the settlement agreement under section 1(b), the Pueb-
lo de Cochiti of New Mexico, as an exercise of self-deter-
mination, assumes any and all legal and financial respon-
sibility for the operation, maintenance, repair, and re-
placement of the drainage system. 
‘‘(b) NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR DRAINAGE SYSTEM.— 
The United States shall have no further legal or financial 
responsibility for the operation, maintenance, repair, or re-
placement of the drainage system. 
‘‘(c) RELEASE FROM LIABILITY.—Effective begin-
ning on the date on which the Pueblo de Cochiti of New 
Mexico assumes all legal and financial responsibility for 
the operation, maintenance, repair, and replacement of the 
drainage system under subsection (a), the Pueblo de 
Cochiti of New Mexico, on behalf of the Pueblo de Cochiti 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:36 Jun 15, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5478.IH
H5478
smartinez on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
of New Mexico and the members of the Pueblo de Cochiti 
of New Mexico, waives and releases the United States 
from all past, present, and future liability for any claim 
relating to the operation, maintenance, repair, or replace-
ment of the drainage system.’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:36 Jun 15, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H5478.IH
H5478
smartinez on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS