Cole Statement on Passing of Elouise Cobell

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement in response to the death of tribal official Elouise Cobell:

"I was saddened to learn of the passing of my good friend and distinguished Native American leader, Elouise Cobell. Nobody fought harder for the honest management of trust assets of Indian Country than Elouise. Due to her efforts, literally hundreds of thousands of native Americans received justice and compensation for the past mismanagement of tribal assets by the U.S. Government.

"I was proud to work with Elouise to pass The Claims Settlement Act of 2010 which provided $3.4 billion to Native Americans' whose trust assets had been mismanaged. Leaders of her caliber are irreplaceable but her work will serve as an example to all who follow her."