WASHINGTON D.C. — Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren today called on Congress to pass S. 953, the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act, emphasizing the urgent need to secure safe, reliable water for thousands of tribal families.
Speaking before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, President Nygren shared personal stories from his childhood, highlighting the human cost of the ongoing water crisis.
“Roughly a third of Navajo households still lack running water,” President Nygren said. “I grew up hauling five-gallon buckets with my mom and grandma. Today, thousands of our people still travel over 30 miles round trip to meet basic water needs. It costs on average $600 a month per family—crippling for those living below the poverty line.”
President Nygren stressed that S. 953 represents a historic and cost-effective federal investment, benefiting both tribal communities and the American taxpayer. Under the settlement, tribes are waiving claims to Colorado River Basin water in exchange for funding to improve infrastructure and enhance Lake Powell’s reserves, achieving these goals at roughly 25 percent lower cost per tribal member than previous Indian water settlements.
Addressing concerns from several Upper Basin states, President Nygren noted that the Navajo Nation is uniquely positioned in both the Upper and Lower Colorado River Basin.
“Any tribal lease to the Lower Basin requires an act of Congress,” he explained adding that the settlement includes provisions to create a 17,050 acre-feet per year water savings pool in Lake Powell for 20 years, supporting critical infrastructure and benefiting all Upper Basin states.
President Nygren highlighted the lasting economic impact of the Navajo Generating Station closure, explaining, “This is half of what was previously used for decades by the Navajo Generating Station, whose closure devastated the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe economically.”
He noted that while some Upper Basin states have raised concerns about temporary water leasing under S. 953, the amount of water involved is relatively small.
“The revenue the tribes could generate by using their water rights to fund infrastructure is transformative,” President Nygren added, emphasizing that the settlement allows the Navajo Nation and its neighbors to rebuild economic opportunities and critical community resources lost after NGS’s closure.
Hopi Chairman Lamar Keevama highlighted the practical and cultural importance of the settlement for his people.
“This settlement brings certainty and stability to the Colorado River Basin by resolving longstanding claims through cooperation, not decades of litigation. Reliable water allows the Hopi people to continue living and practicing our way of life on our ancestral homeland,” Keevama added “Water is sacred—it supports our ceremonies, our culture, and our communities. This settlement is more than a legal agreement; it is a path forward.”
Vice President of the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe Johnny Lehi Jr. highlighted the settlement’s role in fulfilling a decades-long promise.
“S. 953 ratifies a 26-year-old treaty establishing a permanent reservation for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe—the only federally recognized tribe in Arizona without an exclusive reservation. It provides tribal lands, water rights, and a trust fund to develop community water systems, allowing our families to stop hauling water long distances,” he said.
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Scott Cameron provided the federal perspective, emphasizing that negotiated settlements like S. 953 avoid lengthy litigation, protect federal investments, and support tribal sovereignty.
“The bill would accomplish a lot of good things…providing drinking water for folks who haven’t had it forever,” Cameron said, noting that the administration looks forward to working with the tribes and Congress to explore cost-effective ways to implement the settlement.
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) said, “…To know that one in three households in Navajo do not have running water … It is a challenge to the families. It’s a challenge to your health status. And this is the United States of America in 2026, and I think the basic request to have access to clean, safe drinking water is not too much to ask in today’s world for our people.”
