Obama signs the Claims Resolution Act of 2010/White House Photo

After nearly 15 years of litigation and negotiation, President Obama signs the Claims Resolution Act of 2010. The act brings closure to the Cobell lawsuit, but it also opens the next door. Who gets money? When? How much? A fairness hearing is expected to be set as part of the settlement process. Meanwhile, here is a White House press release from Obama. Read on:

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

_______________________________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release December 8, 2010

Statement by the President on H.R. 4783

Today I have signed into law H.R. 4783, the “Claims Resolution Act of 2010.” This Act, among other things, provides funding and statutory authorities for the settlement agreements reached in the Cobell lawsuit, brought by Native Americans; the Pigford II lawsuit, brought by African American farmers; and four separate water rights suits, brought by Native American tribes. While I am pleased that this Act reflects important progress, much work remains to be done to address other claims of past discrimination made by women and Hispanic farmers against the Department of Agriculture as well as to address needs of tribal communities.

I am also pleased that the Act includes authorities proposed by my Administration concerning Unemployment Compensation program integrity, to expand the ability of the Federal Government to recover from individual income tax overpayments certain Unemployment Compensation debts that are due to an individual’s failure to report earnings. My Administration has been working to protect taxpayer funds through improved recovery of improper Federal payments, and the additional authorities in this Act will assist in that effort. In order to ensure that the intent and effect of these program integrity provisions are realized, my Administration is working with the Congress to correct an inadvertent technical drafting error in section 801(a)(3)(C), so that the provision can be implemented as intended.

BARACK OBAMA

Here is an audio link from Indianz.com of a White House press conference on the Claims Resolution Act.

Deparment of Agriculture