Senate approves bill to move Quileute Tribe to safer grounds

Tuesday, February 14, 2012  

The Senate on Monday passed S.636, a bill that allows the Quileute Tribe of Washington to move out of a tsunami zone.

The bill transfers 785 acres within Olympic National Park to the tribe. The land will allow the tribe to escape the threat of tsunamis and flooding.

“I am overwhelmed with emotions and so grateful that our tribe will actually be able to move our elders and children out of the path of a tsunami and up to higher ground. Our tribal school, senior center, administrative offices and elders situated in the lower village, will all benefit from the passage of this legislation," Chairman Tony Foster said in a press release.

The House approved an identical version of the bill, H.R.1162, last week. It now goes to President Barack Obama for his signature.

Get the Story:
Quileute higher ground legislation passes Senate, heads for presidential signature (The Peninsula Daily News 2/14)
Quileutes’ land swap approved (The Spokesman-Review 2/14)
Final OK for U.S. park land transfer to Quileutes (McClatchy Newspapers 2/13)

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House approves bill to move Quileute Tribe to safer grounds (2/7)
Crosscut: Quileute Tribe asks for land to escape tsunami threat (09/22)
NYT Blog: Quileute Tribe lobbies Congress over land transfer bill (9/16)
House subcommittee holds hearing on Quileute Tribe lands bill (9/15)
Opinion: Quileute Tribe seeks to move to higher ground (5/31)
NPR: Quileute Tribe seeks approval to move to safer land (4/26)
Editorial: Bill helps Quileute Tribe move to safe homeland (4/21)
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Quileute Tribe cites tsunami threat in bid for land transfer (4/15)
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