A bill to provide the Hoh Tribe of Washington with a new reservation is headed to President Barack Obama for his signature.

The Hoh Indian Tribe Safe Homelands Act allows the tribe to move out of a floodplain. It transfers 37 acres within the Olympic National Park to the tribe and adds 425 acres of land the tribe already owns to the reservation.

"This news could not have come at a better time for the Hoh tribe," said Chairwoman Maria Lopez in a statement, The Peninsula Daily News reported. "We nearly avoided yet another flooding this past weekend, and the rainy season is upon us."

The transfer of the federal park land is needed in order to ensure the reservation remains contiguous.

Get the Story:
Hoh tribe wins passage of land transfer; once signed, bill will allow tribe to move to higher ground (The Peninsula Daily News 12/15)
Congress OKs land transfer to Hoh Tribe (The Seattle Times 12/15)

Hoh Indian Tribe Safe Homelands Act:
S.443 | H.R.1061

Related Stories:
Hoh Tribe moving closer to new reservation with Senate action (10/1)
Hoh Tribe confronts loss of reservation without new land (4/23)
Hoh Tribe awaits vote on measure to acquire park lands (3/9)
Hoh Tribe asks Congress for new reservation (4/3)
Video: Senate Indian Affairs hearing on four bills (4/2)
Hoh Tribe awaits approval to move to higher ground (2/2)