(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) announced today that $28.42 million for tribal programs for Washington state tribes have been included in several sections of the final 2003 spending bill.
The bill passed the House and Senate yesterday and is expected to be signed by the President. Senator Murray has made funding key tribal programs a priority as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
“I am very committed to ensuring Washington state tribes have the funds they need to effectively manage natural resources, expand economic development and preserve their cultures,” Senator Murray said. “Amazing things are happening in Indian Country, and I want to support those efforts through my work in the U.S. Senate.”
Senator Murray announced the following earmarks for Pacific Northwest tribes:
$9 million from the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF) for tribes. (Commerce)
This funding enables tribes to engage in habitat restoration projects and other efforts to restore listed and threatened salmon populations.
PCSRF for Columbia River Tribes (Commerce)
$3 million
The Timber, Fish, Wildlife Program (Interior)
$3.1 million
This money enables tribes to work with private industry and state and federal land managers to manage forests.
Lake Roosevelt Management (Interior)
$630,000
This money is for Lake management activities conducted by the Colville and Spokane Tribes.
Water Quality Improvement projects
$630,000, which includes $486,000 for 26 tribes and $144,000 for the Northwest Indian Fish Commission (EPA.)
Shellfish management (Interior)
$550,000
This funding assists tribes in managing shellfish harvesting under the Rafeedie decision.
Upper Columbia United Tribes (Interior)
$320,000
UCUT provides resources to the Kalispel, Kootenai, Spokane and Coeur d’Alene Tribes to protect tribal hunting, fishing and gathering rights in the Upper Columbia River Basin.
Evergreen State College’s Tribal Government Masters in Public Administration program (Education)
$150,000
This funding will support the development of a new Masters of Public Administration degree in Tribal Governance.
Plateau Center for American Indian Studies at Washington State University (Education)
$100,000
The Plateau Center will work with tribal representatives to upgrade the university’s curricular programs and its collections of artifacts and documents pertaining to the Plateau tribes.
Senator Murray was also able to secure a few tribally specific earmarks for Washington tribes. She was able to include the following in the final Omnibus spending bill for 2003:
Makah Tribe’s Cape Flattery Paving Project -Segment B (Transportation)
$5.4 million
This funding will allow the 4.3 mile road from the Tribal Center to Cape Flattery to be paved, including bike and pedestrian lanes. Good roads are crucial to allowing increased tourism to take place in this beautiful area.
Yakama Nation’s Signal Peak Road (Transportation)
$4.15 million
This funding will support roadway repairs for the Signal Peak Road. This road is the primary route for the Yakama Nation to transport timber to local mills. This road also allows access to a tribal summer youth camp.
Shoalwater Bay Erosion Study (Energy and Water)
$700,000
This project is attempting to address the alarming rate of shoreline erosion occurring at the Shoalwater Bay reservation near Tokeland, Washington.
SR 164 Muckleshoots (Transportation)
$420,000
The funds will help create left turn lanes, bus turnouts and flashing beacons for pedestrians on the road which links Auburn and Enumclaw and serves the Muckleshoot Reservation.
Squaxin Island Tribe Museum (HUD.)
$180,000
The Tribe will use the funding to purchase display cases and install an interactive learning section in its newly-completed museum. The new museum will be an outstanding economic and cultural resource for the Tribe.
Lummi Nation Planning for Semiahmah Heritage Park (HUD.)
$90,000
The Tribe will use the funding to complete initial plans and begin implementing development of the Semiahmah Memorial and the Coast Salish Heritage Park. During expansion of the City of Blaine’s wastewater treatment facility, a tribal burial ground was desecrated and human remains transported across state lines. The Lummi Tribe and other local partners are now working together to restore and enhance the tribal burial grounds.
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