Billy Frank Jr., 1931-2014. Photo from Facebook
In a near-unanimous vote, the House on Monday passed a bill to rename a wildlife refuge in honor of the late treaty rights activist Billy Frank Jr. H.R.2270, the Billy Frank Jr. Tell Your Story Act, designates the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge as the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. The measure also establishes the Medicine Creek Treaty National Historic Site to mark the signing of the 1854 Treaty of Medicine Creek, which Frank fought to protect. "Billy Frank Jr. was, indeed, the foremost advocate for restoration of Native American fishing treaty rights in the Pacific Northwest," Rep. Denny Heck (D-Washington) said on the House floor. "He cherished clean water and healthy salmon runs. He was a key voice in the recovery of the Puget Sound." The bill easily cleared the chamber by a vote of 413 to 2. The two "Nays" came from Republicans.
Indianz.Com SoundCloud: House Debate on H.R.2270, the BBilly Frank Jr. Tell Your Story Act
The Senate version of the bill is S.2326. It has not received a hearing but the chamber could take up H.R.2270 and pass that one instead. "This is such exciting news. Billy Frank, Jr. continues to be the inspiration to so many Native Americans all across the country, and beyond, and to non-Natives as well," said Fawn Sharp, the president of the Quinault Nation of Washington. He was a man whose dedication to our Mother Earth and sacred resources will never be forgotten."
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