McCAIN INTRODUCES NATIVE AMERICAN OMNIBUS ACT OF 2005
Washington D.C. – Today, Senator McCain, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, introduced the Native American Omnibus Act
of 2005. The Omnibus Act includes the Colorado River Indian Reservation Boundary Correction Act that will restore approximately 15,000
acres that was stripped from the Tribe’s reservation in 1915.
“The return of the reservation lands to the Colorado River Indian Tribes corrects an injustice that has lasted nearly 90 years. The
correction is long overdue.” said Senator McCain.
The La Paz lands, as the area of land is called, is located between Quartsite and Ehrenberg and crosses a portion of Interstate 10. The
La Paz bill includes several concessions from the Tribe and prohibits Indian gaming on the lands and does not include additional Colorado
River water allocation for the La Paz lands. In addition, the sand and gravel operations, all mining claims, rights of way, and
recreational activity will all be recognized and grandfathered by the legislation. A similar bill was sponsored by Senator Barry
Goldwater in 1980.
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Contact: Andrea Jones
Tuesday, March 7, 2005