WASHINGTON, D.C. — A bill that would give the Quileute people a place to live and work that is safe from tsunamis and floods will be heard in a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee meeting today.
The National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee will consider H.R. 1162, a bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks.
Dicks to be there
Dicks, D-Belfair, represents the North Olympic Peninsula as part of his 6th Congressional District.
He introduced the bill in conjunction with an identical U.S. Senate bill, S.636, introduced by U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Mountlake Terrace.
The Senate bill was passed by the committee July 28 and awaits a vote by the full Senate.
The bill would transfer 785 acres of parkland to the tribe, including 510 acres along the Quillayute River, and designate a 275-acre parcel owned privately by the tribe to the reservation.
Parts removed
Parts of the new reservation lands would be removed from wilderness designation, and tribal living areas would then be moved to the new, safer upland areas.
The bill also includes a transfer of 4,100 acres of land, mostly in the Lake Crescent area, to Olympic National Park as wilderness.
Quileute Chairwoman Bonita Cleveland will testify in front of the House subcommittee sometime this morning.
Her testimony can be seen live at http://tinyurl.com/3k42x2c. No exact time was available.
‘I am humbled’
“I am humbled to be able to represent our people at this important hearing,” Cleveland said in a statement.
“I am optimistic the outcome will be favorable” for the tribe, she said, adding, “I carry the spirit of all Quileute tribal members tomorrow.
“We owe deep gratitude to the elders still with us and those who have walked on that have worked for decades toward this very important effort,” Cleveland said.
The Quileute village is primarily located on lowlands on the coast, subject to tsunami and flood.
“We need to relocate to higher ground the entire lower village, which houses our administrative offices, tribal school, senior center, churches and the U.S. Coast Guard Station that protects tribal fishermen,” Cleveland said.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
