The Senate Indian Affairs Committee held a hearing on Thursday on S.443, the Hoh Indian Tribe Safe Homelands Act.

The bill adds 462 acres to the Hoh Reservation. The tribe needs the land in order to escape constant flooding.

"We have flooding every year and as long as I can remember," Chairwoman Jonette Reyes told the committee.

The tribe has already acquired 425 acres. The bill includes 37 acres from the Olympic National Park to the tribe to ensure the expansion is contiguous.

Get the Story:
Tribe asks to expand reservation; Hoh members testify in D.C. (The Peninsula Daily News 4/3)
Hoh tribe makes case for land to move reservation (AP 4/2)

Committee Hearing:
LEGISLATIVE HEARING on the following bills (April 2, 2009)

Related Stories:
Video: Senate Indian Affairs hearing on four bills (4/2)
Hoh Tribe awaits approval to move to higher ground (2/2)