WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation sponsored by Rep. Derek Kilmer that would provide resources to coastal tribes to support their efforts to mitigate threats caused by climate change and sea level rise.
The House approved House Resolution 729 on a near-party-line vote last Tuesday, sending the bills to the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate.
The vote was 262 in favor and 151 against.
Kilmer’s Tribal Coastal Resiliency Act provides federal resources to Native American tribes living in coastal areas to support their efforts to mitigate threats caused by climate change and sea-level rise.
The bill would modernize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coastal Zone Management Grant Program to create a dedicated set-aside for tribal communities to secure grant funding to support key projects that will protect their people and landmarks from changing landscapes and weather events.
“I’m grateful the package of bills passed today includes a bipartisan bill I’ve introduced, the Tribal Coastal Resiliency Act, to provide tribal communities with direct access to much needed resources to enhance their coastal resiliency and keep their people out of harm’s way,” Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, said Tuesday.
“I’m proud that the House is continuing to take action to combat climate change by passing actionable, ambitious, bipartisan bills that can not only help our planet — but create quality jobs and keep communities safe. It’s great news that the House passed this legislation, and I hope the Senate will enable this to become law.”
Coastal tribes are increasingly confronting persistent flooding, mold damage, tsunami threats and erosion, according to Kilmer’s office. Washington state has more than 3,000 miles of marine coastline, where 17 tribal communities have made their homes.
Kilmer’s 6th Congressional District includes the North Olympic Peninsula.
To date, tribes such as the Quileute Nation village of La Push, the Hoh Tribe, the Makah Tribe, and the Quinault Indian Nation have started the process of moving assets and people to higher ground.
“I would like to thank the House of Representatives for considering and passing the Coastal and Great Lakes Communities Enhancement Act today. I would also like to thank Congressman Derek Kilmer for his continued leadership and work in Congress to address climate change,” said Fawn Sharp, president of the Quinault Indian Nation.
“This bill will make available to Tribes grant funding for the protection and preservation of Tribal coastal zones and areas. This funding will be very helpful to every Tribe that is dealing with rising sea level, and coastal and shoreline degradation and destabilization due to climate change. I urge the Senate to immediately pass this important legislation.”
Kilmer’s bill recognizes tribal sovereignty by amending the Coastal Zone Management Act to allow tribal governments to directly compete for Coastal Zone Management Grants, instead of requiring them to petition states to prioritize their projects.
