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Jicarilla Apache Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act

Public Law 102-441 · H.R. 5122 · 102nd Congress · began in the House

Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Oct 23, 1992 · Native Americans

Sponsor: Rep. William Richardson (D-NM-3)

Cosponsors: None

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Jicarilla Apache Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act - Ratifies and approves the Settlement Contract between the Secretary of the Interior and the Jicarilla Apache Tribe of Indians in New Mexico for the resolution of water rights claims.

Makes specified amounts of water available under the Contract from the Navajo Reservoir or River and the San Juan-Chama Project. Entitles the Tribe to use return flows attributable to uses of the water as long as water depletions do not exceed amounts set forth in this Act.

Authorizes the Tribe, subject to the Secretary's approval and when water made available under the Contract is not being used, to sell, exchange, lease, or temporarily dispose of the water. Prohibits the Tribe from permanently alienating rights under the Contract. Limits terms of water use subcontracts, including renewals, to 99 years. Subjects subcontracts to the Secretary's approval.

Establishes in the Treasury the Jicarilla Apache Water Resources Fund. Authorizes appropriations for: (1) water resources development costs; and (2) payment of the Tribe's share of operation and replacement costs for the San Juan-Chama Project (assuming certain waivers apply).

Prohibits the expenditure of such authorized funds until: (1) certain actions brought by the Tribe against the United States are dismissed; and (2) certain partial final decrees quantifying water rights claims with New Mexico have been entered into. Terminates the Fund if such partial final decrees are not entered into by December 31, 1996.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 15 actions.

  1. Oct 23, 1992Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 102-441.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Oct 15, 1992PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 7, 1992FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
  5. CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Indian Affairs Committee
  6. Sep 30, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Indian Affairs Committee
  7. Sep 29, 1992FloorFloor · The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
  8. FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  9. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
  10. FloorFloor · Mr. Miller (CA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  11. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
  12. Sep 23, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
  13. May 29, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by House Natural Resources Committee
  14. May 7, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
  15. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.