Chehalis Chairman Pickernell Testifies at Senate Hearing on Tribal Distilling Bill

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Chehalis Tribe Chairman Harry Pickernell testified Wednesday at a Senate hearing on a bill to end the ban on distilleries on tribal lands.

The bill is part of Congressional efforts to repeal the obscure 1834 ban, which has stymied the Chehalis Tribe’s efforts to create a distillery as part of economic development efforts. A House version of the bill proposed by Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, has been passed by the Natural Resources Committee. Sen. Maria Cantwell has taken up the cause in the Senate.

The legislation, Cantwell said, “would repeal an outdated discriminatory law.” She called it a “bill that provides greater economic opportunities for the tribe and Indian country.”



In his testimony, Pickernell said the bill will have a great economic impact.

“By allowing the tribe's project to move forward, repealing (the ban) will create jobs both for tribal members and their surrounding communities, and provide an economic return to the tribe for use to support its tribal programs,” he said. “Time is of the essence for this legislation. The tribe has its building permits in hand, has completed the full design of the project, purchased some of the equipment and needs to continue to expend additional funds for development of this project.”