(AP) -- WASHINGTON (AP) - American Indian landowners and African-American farmers who claim they were subjected to mistreatment and discrimination by the government may soon share $4.6 billion after years of litigation.
A House vote expected as early as Tuesday would complete congressional action and send the authorization to President Barack Obama, whose administration brokered settlements on the lawsuits 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.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
(Copyright ©2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
