Rep. Gabe Vasquez, Zuni Pueblo Call on Speaker Mike Johnson to Pass New Mexico Water Rights Settlements

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (N.M.-02) and Zuni Pueblo called on Speaker Mike Johnson to pass the Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act and all water rights settlements to benefit New Mexico’s Tribes and Pueblos. These settlements provide essential resources to support water infrastructure across New Mexico and ensure that both Tribal and private water users have access to water. 

“I am calling on Speaker Johnson to pass New Mexico’s water rights settlements before the end of the year,” said Vasquez. “The settlements for Zuni, Acoma, Laguna and our other Pueblos are a critical step toward honoring our commitments to Indian Country and ensuring all New Mexicans have access to safe water. My bill to ratify the Zuni settlement helps resolve long-standing water rights issues and provides Zuni Tribe with the resources necessary for vital water infrastructure projects for generations to come.” 

“The Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act will help us restore the Zuni River - which used to perennially flow through our village - and its tributaries, provide a safe and sustainable water supply for our future and the needed infrastructure to deliver that water, and will make permanent protections for the sacred Zuni Salt Lake,” said Governor Kucate. “We greatly appreciate Congressman Vasquez for his commitment to Zuni and work to introduce this vitally important legislation.”

The bicameral Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act authorizes $685 million in federal funding to support a trust for sustainable water management and infrastructure development that upholds the federal government’s trust responsibility while protecting the sacred Zuni Salt Lake. The bill ratifies the settlement between the Federal Government, State of New Mexico and Zuni Tribe that affirms their water rights for irrigation, livestock, storage and other uses. 

On December 3, U.S. Representatives Vasquez, Stansbury and Leger-Fernandez sent a letter to Speaker Johnson urging passage of all of the Indian water rights settlements for New Mexico.  

Vasquez is also fighting for passage of the Rio San José and Rio Jemez Water Settlements Act, which would secure water rights and infrastructure funding for the Pueblo of Acoma and Pueblo of Laguna. 

This summer, Vasquez introduced the Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act. U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) introduced the bill in the Senate, and U.S. Senator Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) and Teresa Leger-Fernandez (D-N.M.) co-sponsored the legislation.

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