Title 25, IndiansRelease 119-110

§149 Indian Water Rights Settlement Completion Fund

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

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Creates the Indian Water Rights Settlement Completion Fund in the U.S. Treasury and requires a deposit of $2,500,000,000 on the later of October 1, 2021, and November 15, 2021, from Treasury money not otherwise set aside. The funds remain available until spent, and the Interior Secretary can use them without further appropriation or yearly limits to pay obligations under Indian water settlements approved by Congress before November 15, 2021. The Secretary sets amounts, any indexing, and the timing to finish the settlements as quickly as practicable.

Full Legal Text

Title 25, §149

Indians, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Establishment

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)Deposits

(1)In general

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)Availability

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)Uses

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)Scope of transfers

(1)In general

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)Sequence and timing

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

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110