Representative Hayworth said of the votes today, "the bipartisan message to Washington on behalf of Indian Country was strong and clear: put 'trust' back in Native American Trust funds by making a full accounting, and honor tribal sovereignty on gaming issues. I couldn't be more pleased on behalf of our tribal nations with the overwhelming votes of support today."

Of the Native American Caucus, Representative Kildee said, "I'm happy that since I founded the bipartisan Caucus five years ago, we've not lost a single pro-Indian vote."

The Vice-chairs of the Congressional Native American Caucus, Representatives Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and Dave Camp (R-MI), also spoke in favor of adoption of the amendments.

Previously, the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to strike language proposed by Secretary Norton and the White House that sought to undermine the Cobell v. Norton litigation and limit the Court-ordered accounting. The striken language sought:
1. To limit the historical accounting for the time period 1985 to 2000; and
2. To exclude accounts arbitrarily closed before 2000.

Interior Secretary Gale Norton and the White House unlawfully sought to include the provisions in the appropriations bill to mitigate the pending contempt decision against Norton and to evade their responsibility to conduct the all funds accounting required by United States District Court and United States Court of Appeals.

Most members of Congress again expressed a strong preference for settlement of the six year old Cobell v. Norton lawsuit. Plaintiffs concur.