Committed to the People
Mo Udall introduced and actively supported a vast array of legislation supporting Native American land rights, including long-term lease provisions, mineral resource provisions, water rights, and land trusts for tribal groups in the Southwestern U.S. (including Arizona).
These efforts included the 1982 Southern Arizona Water Rights Settlement Act outlining water rights claims of the Tohono O'odham (amended and reinforced in 2004).
Equally important in Mo's efforts was the passage of legislation for Native American financial independence.
He revised appropriations for the Indian Business Development Program, supported the Indian Self-Determination Amendment, and introduced legislation that provided federally-recognized tribes with faster means of receiving monetary damages.
Mo engaged in extensive efforts to provide legislation for Native American health and cultural welfare. He sponsored the Indian Child Welfare Act in 1978.
He also introduced legislation to reauthorize and amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.
In his final years in Congress, Mo introduced the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.