Where do you stand?

house Bill H.R. 91

Should the Bureau of Indian Affairs Work With Columbia River Tribes to Improve Sanitation & Safety Conditions at Fishing Sites?

Argument in favor

While the federal government moves forward with a plan to fund permanent public housing for the displaced Columbia River Treaty tribes, there should also be improvements made to the unsafe and unsanitary conditions at the tribes’ treaty-protected fishing sites.

I.Got.an.Idea...'s Opinion

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04/28/2019

Yes, but should focus on cleaning of all public waters, not just fishing sites. If all public waters were cleansed of toxic contributions, the healthy fishing would be a result of clean water for all animals and humans and environment.

Like (81)

Kodiwodi's Opinion

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04/28/2019

Cooperation. What a nice idea. The BIA overseeing this rather than the tribes directly could mean improved oversight and fairness for all involved. Good to see House and Senate have identical bills.

Like (45)

Lisa's Opinion

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04/28/2019

These are basic needs. It should have been done long ago, Perhaps I missed something but How do children study with out electricity, we keep groups of people down with out sanitation and the means to improve overall health.

Like (32)

Argument opposed

Rather than having the Bureau of Indian Affairs administer the funds to tribal groups that carry out the improvements and conduct oversight, the funding should be transferred directly to the tribes.

Rebecca's Opinion

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04/29/2019

Native peoples should be able to make the decisions affecting them. The BIA is top heavy with bossy types; not well known for their empathy. I do not imagine good outcomes just infringement on tribal rights. Give them the money, advise as they ask for it. End of story

Like (30)

Laura's Opinion

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04/30/2019

Before you vote, please look closely at the details listed. Click on “Why Vote No” and “Why Vote Yes”. A Yes vote leaves the oversight in the hands of the BIA, which is known to be problematic on many levels. A No Vote leaves oversight in the hands of the tribe, with further oversight committee to assure funds are properly used. I also agree that all waterways should be addressed. Lastly, to those of you who say, “make them fix it, it’s their own fault”. The clean up is NOT the result of native doing - do your damn research. And to those who say “Stop with reparations, none of those living today were harmed” - YOU ARE STILL LIVING ON STOLEN, LAND. Give the land back to the rightful owners and we can then talk about ending reparations!

Like (19)

Larry's Opinion

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04/29/2019

This reparations to the native Americans business needs to come to an end. No one alive today had anything to do with the mistreatment of the Indians, and by helping them, we are only enabling dependency, which ruins their lives.

Like (5)

What is House Bill H.R. 91?

This bill would authorize the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to assess sanitation and safety conditions set aside to provide Columbia River Treaty tribes access to traditional fishing grounds and enter into contracts with tribes or tribal organizations to improve those conditions and access to to electricity, sewer, and water infrastructure. It’d apply to land held by the U.S. for the benefit of the Nez Perce Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) would be required to report whether the sanitation and safety conditions on the lands have improved as a result of the contracts.

Impact

Columbia River Treaty tribes and visitors to the fishing access sites; tribes and tribal organizations; the GAO; and the BIA.

Cost of House Bill H.R. 91

$11.00 Million

The CBO estimates that this bill’s identical companion in the Senate would cost $11 million over the 2019-2024 period.

More Information

In-Depth: Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) reintroduced this bill to enable the Bureau of Indian Affairs to make safety and sanitation improvements at federally-owned tribal treaty fishing sites along the Columbia River:

“While we work to provide longer-term relief through the construction of permanent housing, this legislation calls for immediate action to improve conditions at the tribal fishing sites along the Columbia River. Urgent upgrades are needed for electrical, sewer, and other basic improvements to address safety, sanitation, and other conditions. The federal government shouldn’t let more time pass without helping to make sure that the basic necessities of clean and safe conditions are pursued. The status quo is unacceptable.”

The Columbia River Treaty tribes — the Warm Springs, Umatilla, Nez Perce, and Yakama Nation — have a treaty-protected right to fish along the Columbia River and were displaced from many villages in the 1930s during the construction of the lower Columbia River dams (including lands and fishing sites at the pictured Celilo Falls).

While 31 fishing sites were built by the federal government along the Columbia River to provide daily, in-season fishing access and temporary camping access, the commitment to replace the flooded housing largely wasn’t kept. As a result, some tribal members are living in makeshift housing at those sites in what the Associated Press described as “decrepit, unsafe, and unsanitary” conditions.

In November 2018, the Trump administration restored funding for a plan to rebuild the villages that had been left out of the administration’s 2017 budget due to concerns raised by OMB Director Mick Mulvaney about how the funds would be moved within the Corps of Engineers accounts. The Army Corps of Engineers added The Dalles Dam village plan to its 2019 project list at a cost of $1.8 million, which will fund environmental and feasibility assessments of building permanent housing at the sites with involvement from tribal members.

This bill has the support of one cosponsor, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR).

Media:

Sponsoring Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) Press Release (114th Congress)
Rep. Blumenauer Fact Sheet (Previous Congress)
CBO Cost Estimate (Senate companion)
Associated Press

Summary by Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: OSU Special Collections & Archives / Public Domain)

AKA

Columbia River In-Lieu and Treaty Fishing Access Sites Improvement Act

Official Title

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to assess sanitation and safety conditions at Bureau of Indian Affairs facilities that were constructed to provide affected Columbia River Treaty tribes access to traditional fishing grounds and expend funds on construction of facilities and structures to improve those conditions, and for other purposes.

bill Progress

Not enacted
The President has not signed this bill
The senate has not voted
The house Passed April 29th, 2019
Roll Call Vote 396 Yea / 18 Nay
IntroducedJanuary 3rd, 2019

Bill Data

Issues

Committees

Indigenous Peoples of the United States
Committee on Natural Resources
Committee on Indian Affairs

Sponsor

Rep Earl Blumenauer

(D - OR)

1 Cosponsor

Introduced 01/03/2019

Full text of Bill

I.Got.an.Idea...'s Opinion In Favor

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04/28/2019

Like (81)

Rebecca's Opinion Against

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04/29/2019

Like (30)

Kodiwodi's Opinion In Favor

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04/28/2019

Cooperation. What a nice idea. The BIA overseeing this rather than the tribes directly could mean improved oversight and fairness for all involved. Good to see House and Senate have identical bills.

Like (45)

Lisa's Opinion In Favor

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04/28/2019

Like (32)

Laura's Opinion Against

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04/30/2019

Like (19)

Rick's Opinion In Favor

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04/28/2019

We took enough from the indigenous people of this continent. I have no problem with any legislation that helps them. I’m not an advocate of retribution, but I do believe their generosity was taken advantage of, and, in some cases, brute force was used to take their land. If we can help them keep their proud culture well and prosperous, l’m all for it.

Like (18)

burrkitty's Opinion In Favor

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04/29/2019

I’m all for helping out the First People tribes. It’s past time to undo some of the damage we did as colonialists.

Like (15)

SneakyPete's Public Comment

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04/29/2019

👍🏻👍🏻 Columbia River Treaty tribes 👍🏻👍🏻 While the federal government moves forward with a plan to fund permanent public housing for the displaced Columbia River Treaty tribes, there should also be improvements made to the unsafe and unsanitary conditions at the tribes’ treaty-protected fishing sites. SneakyPete........ 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻. 4*28*19.........

Like (13)

IllWill's Opinion In Favor

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04/29/2019

Native Americans are one of the poorest communities in the United States and living in the worst living conditions in the country. This is the very least that the government can do! Also, housing for these tribes needs to be rebuilt ASAP!

Like (12)

J's Public Comment

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04/29/2019

I’m not saying “yea” or “nay” on this one. It’s because of who supervises the funding. I’ve been on reservations, worked on some. Unfortunately, they are like third world countries within the United States. Like third world countries, the agencies and leaders misuse funds. The Native People deserve better housing, schools, healthcare, clean water, etc. I’m just not sure I trust anyone with the money to see that it gets done and not line more than a few people’s pockets.

Like (12)

Jerrey's Opinion In Favor

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04/28/2019

A worthwhile effort.

Like (11)

Glowurm's Opinion In Favor

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04/29/2019

Sounds like a good idea to me. The more people work together, the better the chance for better relationships.

Like (11)

Jillian's Opinion In Favor

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04/29/2019

Absolutely. This needs to be a joint effort. Everyone contributing and everyone benefiting. And this is a great role model about bring people together for a greater good.

Like (8)