Rep. Richard Pombo (R-California), the chairman of the House Resources Committee, has introduced a resolution in support of the Makah Nation's whale hunt.

The measure, H.CON.RES.267, cites the tribe's 1855 treaty with the United States. It is the only treaty that guarantees a right to hunt whale.

But the resolution states that treaty has been wrongly abrogated by the courts. Last year, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the tribe has to seek a waiver under the Marine Mammals Protection Act.

"Congress expresses its disapproval of the abrogation of the Tribe's treaty rights and that the Government of the United States should uphold the treaty rights of the Makah Tribe," the measure states.

Pombo's committee will take up the resolution today. The markup takes place at 10am in Room 1324 of the Longworth House Office Building [Agenda].

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is considering the tribe's waiver. A public meeting was held in the Washington, D.C., area yesterday, drawing tribal leaders and opponents of the hunt. Makah vice chairman Dave Sones said he expects more lawsuits.

The NOAA is using the meetings to prepare a draft environmental impact statement on the hunt. An official told Medill News Service that the study will be ready by next fall.

Get the Story:
Whale-hunt options aired (Medill News Service 10/19)
Makahs seek waiver allowing return to historic whaling tradition (AP 10/18)

Relevant Links:
Makah Nation - http://www.makah.com
Makah Request for a Waiver of the Moratorium on Taking Marine Mammals - http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/mmammals/graywhales/index.html

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