House Clears Indian, Black Farmer Settlements : NPR: The House of Representatives passed landmark legislation Tuesday to pay for some $4.6 billion in settlements with American Indians and black farmers who say they faced discrimination and mistreatment from the government.
Lawmakers voted 256-152 to send the measure to President Obama, whose administration brokered the settlements over the past year.
The package would award some $3.4 billion to American Indians over claims they were cheated out of royalties overseen by the Interior Department for resources like oil, gas and timber. Another $1.2 billion would go to African-Americans who claim they were unfairly denied loans and other assistance from the Agriculture Department.
The settlements have broad bipartisan support but had stalled in Congress over costs until the Senate broke a stalemate this month.
