U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Department of Treasury
U.S. Department of Justice

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 21, 1999

(202) 501-4633
TDD (202) 514-1888

JOINT STATEMENT BY THE DEPARTMENTS OF INTERIOR, TREASURY AND JUSTICE
On Decision in Cobell v. Babbitt

We are gratified that Judge Lamberth is allowing the federal government an opportunity to move forward and implement the Department of the Interior's plan to manage the Indian Trust Funds. The Departments of the Interior and of the Treasury acknowledge the seriousness of our obligation to Indian people and the importance of meeting the Judge's directives.

We are working very hard and have come a long way. We welcome the opportunity to prove that the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, with the help and the guidance from the Congress, can move forward from almost a century of inadequate accounting systems and antiquated record keeping.

We are determined to meet the challenges and overcome obstacles that lie ahead and we welcome the continued oversight from the court as we continue to put plans into action.