U.S. Rep. Marilyn Strickland, D-Tacoma, spoke to the House Natural Resources Committee during a hearing on Wednesday, asking the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States to approve her bill granting expanded leasing authority to the Chehalis Tribe.
“My bill is simple. It will amend the long-term leasing act to give the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation leasing authority for up to 99 years. This will allow the tribe greater access to economic opportunity and strengthen their sovereignty. As a freshman in congress, it is an honor to represent the Chehalis in Washington’s 10th congressional district and to work alongside their leadership,” said Strickland. “With a number of enterprises, the Chehalis are a strong community, but a 1955 law stands in the way of expanding economic development. The long-term leasing act of 1955 provides tribes with the authority to enter into lease agreement terms of up to 25 years with an additional renewal of 25 years subject to the Interior Secretary’s approval. Since this law’s enactment, however, the act has been amended by congress to give nearly 60 tribes extended leasing authority. While no tribe should be impeded by these leasing restrictions, this expanded authority is both essential and timely for the Chehalis tribe. Chehalis has trust land off Interstate 5 and (U.S.) Highway 12 that could be vital for our economy, including warehouse structures and other investments that will strengthen our supply chain. In the current financing environment, the tribe must provide leases of up to 99 years to potential investors for these large scale and much needed projects.”
Strickland’s bill, H.R. 6964, was originally co-sponsored by Reps. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, and Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, and has gained the support of the entire Washington state Congressional delegation. Sen. Maria Cantwell has introduced a companion bill in the Senate co-sponsored by Sen. Patty Murray.
“As of today, every single member of the Washington state congressional delegation is a co-sponsor of this bill, and it has support from the (Biden) administration,” Strickland told the subcommittee. “This is a bipartisan issue, we all benefit. With federal support across our branches of government, it is something we must get done.”
In a statement released on Thursday, Strickland was joined by Herrera Beutler advocating for the bill.
“I whole-heartedly support the Chehalis Tribe’s commitment to spurring economic development in our region,” said Herrera Beutler. “It’s an honor to help advance this legislation through Congress that gives the Tribe long-term certainty with the goal of increased job opportunities for folks in Southwest Washington.”
