Presidential Testimony on S 953/HR 2025 for the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement

Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren will testify before the US Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on S. 953/H.R 2025 for the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement. The Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025 (S.953/H.R. 2025) aims to ratify a historic agreement among the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, settling long-standing water claims in the Colorado and Little Colorado River basins. It authorizes over $5 billion for infrastructure, including the "iiná bá – paa tuwaqat'si" pipeline to deliver clean water to homes. This legislation will also establish a reservation for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe and supports infrastructure to bring water to underserved areas, aiding in economic development and permanent homeland security. For many families across the Navajo Nation, access to clean drinking water remains a daily challenge. More than 30 percent of Navajo households lack running water, forcing families to haul water long distances—often at great financial cost and sometimes from sources that are not safe to drink. This reality affects public health, economic opportunity, and quality of life throughout the Nation. In his testimony, President Nygren will highlight that water is the foundation for strong communities. Reliable water supplies support schools, health care facilities, small businesses, and long-term economic development. The proposed settlement would fund major infrastructure projects to bring safe, dependable drinking water closer to Navajo homes and communities while addressing long-standing water rights claims across northeastern Arizona.