WASHINGTON, DC-The United States Department of the Interior has hit a crucial milestone. It has transferred a total of $60 million to the Cobell Scholarship Fund, which was established by the historic Cobell settlement. The figure is significant because it's the maximum that can be placed in the fund under the terms of settlement.

The amount also points to the success of the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations, another component of the settlement. A portion of every land sale goes into the fund and the $60 million ceiling was reached just four years into the effort.

"Investment in...