Obama signs bill to move Quileute Tribe to safer grounds

Tuesday, February 28, 2012  

President Barack Obama on Monday signed H.R.1162 into law, allowing the Quileute Tribe of Washington to move out of a tsunami zone.

The bill transfers 785 acres within Olympic National Park to the tribe. The land will be used to relocate the tribal headquarters, a school day-care center and an elder center.

"I am overwhelmed with emotions and so grateful that our tribe will actually be able to move our elders and children out of the path of a tsunami and up to higher ground. Our tribal school, senior center, administrative offices and elders situated in the lower village, will all benefit from the passage of this legislation," Chairman Tony Foster said in a press release.

The House passed H.R.1162 on February 6. The Senate passed an identical version, S.636, on February 13.

Get the Story:
Obama signs law giving Quileute land outside tsunami zone (The Peninsula Daily News 2/28)
Obama OKs park-land transfer to Quileute tribe (McClatchy Washington 2/27)
Statement by the Press Secretary on H.R. 1162 (White House 2/27)

Related Stories:
Editorial: Quileute Tribe can finally move to safer grounds (2/24)
Senate approves bill to move Quileute Tribe to safer grounds (2/14)
House approves bill to move Quileute Tribe to safer grounds (2/7)