In Appreciation of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission
Floor Speech
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Mr. HECK of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and thank
the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission for its unyielding dedication
to the restoration of Puget Sound and the protection of Tribal treaty
rights for the First Peoples of the Pacific Northwest.
For Tribes, clean water and healthy salmon are not just perks of life
in the Pacific Northwest; they are the centerpiece of the Tribes'
history, culture, and way of life. Unfortunately, changing ocean
chemistry, degrading habitats, and stormwater runoff are posing an
existential threat to these resources.
Following a landmark victory reaffirming treaty-protected fishing
rights, the Tribes created the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission to
assist them in developing biologically sound fisheries and restore the
salmon runs that sustained their people for centuries. The
interconnectedness of habitats and ecological systems throughout the
Puget Sound region means that Tribal participation is vital to all
aspects of natural resource management in the Pacific Northwest.
To that end, NWIFC provides a forum for member Tribes to jointly
address natural resource management issues and enables Tribes to speak
with a unified voice on issues of mutual concern. For decades, NWIFC
and the Tribes have asked the Federal Government to fulfill its treaty
obligations by protecting the Puget Sound and restoring salmon runs.
Today, I thank the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission for its
partnership and cooperation in the development of the Promoting United
Government Efforts To Save Our Sound Act, or the PUGET SOS Act. This
bill requires a more coordinated and deliberate effort within the
Federal Government to restore and protect the Puget Sound, and it
explicitly recognizes and prioritizes the treaty rights of the
sovereign Tribes. I sincerely thank the Commission's staff for their
assistance and advice in crafting this important piece of legislation.
I raise my hands to the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission and its
member Tribes for their tireless efforts to save the Puget Sound.
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