Title 25 — IndiansRelease 119-73

§149 Indian Water Rights Settlement Completion Fund

Title 25 › Chapter CHAPTER 4— - PERFORMANCE BY UNITED STATES OF OBLIGATIONS TO INDIANS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - DISBURSEMENT OF MONEYS AND SUPPLIES › § 149

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Create a Treasury fund called the Indian Water Rights Settlement Completion Fund. On the later of October 1, 2021 and November 15, 2021, the Secretary of the Treasury must deposit $2,500,000,000 into it from Treasury funds. That money stays available until it is spent. The Secretary of the Interior can use the money without more approvals or yearly limits to make transfers or pay obligations for Indian water settlements that Congress approved before November 15, 2021. The Interior decides how much to send for each settlement, including any required cost adjustments, and can choose the order and timing to finish the settlements as quickly as possible.

Full Legal Text

Title 25, §149

Indians — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)There is established in the Treasury of the United States a fund to be known as the “Indian Water Rights Settlement Completion Fund” (referred to in this section as the “Fund”).

(b)(1)On the later of October 1, 2021, and November 15, 2021, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall deposit in the Fund $2,500,000,000, to remain available until expended.

(2)Amounts deposited in the Fund under paragraph (1) shall be available to the Secretary of the Interior, without further appropriation or fiscal year limitation, for the uses described in subsection (c).

(c)Subject to subsection (d), amounts deposited in the Fund under subsection (b) shall be used by the Secretary of the Interior for transfers to funds or accounts authorized to receive discretionary appropriations, or to satisfy other obligations identified by the Secretary of the Interior, under an Indian water settlement approved and authorized by an Act of Congress before November 15, 2021.

(d)(1)Transfers authorized under subsection (c) shall be made in such amounts as are determined by the Secretary of the Interior to be appropriate to satisfy the obligations of the United States, including appropriate indexing, pursuant to the applicable Indian water settlement.

(2)The Secretary of the Interior shall have the discretion to determine the sequence and timing of transfers from the Fund under subsection (c) in order to substantially complete the eligible Indian water settlements as expeditiously as practicable.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

25 U.S.C. § 149

Title 25 — Indians

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73