Tribal Coastal Resiliency Act inches forward on Capitol Hill

Wednesday, September 25, 2019  

A bill that would help tribes address the effects of climate change in coastal areas is due to advance on Capitol Hill.

The House Committee on Natural Resources is holding a markup session on Wednesday morning. One of the items on the agenda is H.R.729, the Tribal Coastal Resiliency Act.

The measure helps tribes living in coastal areas address threats from rapidly changing landscapes and severe weather events. It received a hearing on July 25.

"This legislation will make available to tribes grant funding for the protection and preservation of tribal coastal zones and areas," President Fawn Sharp of the Quinault Nation, said in her written testimony to the House Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife, which is part of the larger committee.

"This is funding that is critically needed by tribes that are dealing with coastal and shoreline degradation and destabilization due to climate change," said Sharp, who is running for president of the National Congress of American Indians, the nation's largest inter-tribal advocacy organization.

H.R.729 has always enjoyed bipartisan support but the markup represents the first time the legislation is set to move forward on Capitol Hill since it was first introduced in 2015. With Democrats in control of the U.S. House of Representatives, supporters believe the measure has a much greater chance of success than when the chamber was under Republican rule.

The markup takes place at 10am Eastern in Room 1324 of the Longworth House Office Building. A total of 10 bills are on the agenda.

Approval of the H.R.729 at the session means the bill can be considered for passage by the full House.

Full Committee Markup (September 25, 2019)

Water, Oceans and Wildlife Legislative Hearing (July 25, 2019)

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Note: Thumbnail photo by Sam Beebe.

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Tribal Coastal Resiliency Act up for first hearing in new political climate (July 25, 2019)