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HR 644 116th Congress House Native Americans Federal-Indian relations Government trust funds Indian claims Indian lands and resources rights Lakes and rivers Utah Water use and supply

Navajo Utah Water Rights Settlement Act of 2020

Introduced: January 17, 2019 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 9 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 18, 2020
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 557.
Dec 18, 2020
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 116-673.
Feb 12, 2020
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
Feb 12, 2020
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Feb 12, 2020
Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Discharged.
Jun 26, 2019
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Feb 6, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.
Jan 17, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Jan 17, 2019
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Navajo Utah Water Rights Settlement Act of 2020

This bill ratifies and modifies the Navajo Utah Water Rights Settlement Agreement negotiated between the Navajo Nation, the United States, and Utah. The agreement gives the Navajo Nation the right to use water from sources located within Utah and adjacent to or encompassed within the boundaries of the Navajo Reservation, provided that depletions do not exceed a specified amount annually.

The Navajo water rights shall be held in trust by the United States for the use and benefit of the Navajo Nation and shall not be subject to forfeiture or abandonment.

The Navajo Nation shall have authority to allocate, distribute, and lease the water rights for any use on or off its reservation in accordance with the agreement.

The Department of the Interior shall establish and manage the Navajo Utah Settlement Trust Fund, with amounts available for withdrawal by the Navajo Nation for planning, designing, constructing, operating, maintaining, and replacing Navajo water development projects.

The bill also specifies waivers and releases that must be executed in order for the settlement to be binding and effective.

What's happening now December 18, 2020

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 557.

 Related & companion bills 3
  • HR 2 Related bill Moving Forward Act
  • S 886 Related bill Indian Water Rights Settlement Extension Act
  • S 1207 Related bill Navajo Utah Water Rights Settlement Act of 2019
 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Democratic 1 Republican 1
D
Luján, Ben Ray
New Mexico · Jun 20, 2019
 R
Curtis, John R.
Utah · Jan 25, 2019
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 644: Navajo Utah Water Rights Settlement Act of 2020. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-644/
MLA
"H.R. 644: Navajo Utah Water Rights Settlement Act of 2020." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-644/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 644, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-644/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 644: Navajo Utah Water Rights Settlement Act of 2020](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-644/)
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