Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (H.R. 2642). The bill, which was introduced by Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and passed the House with bipartisan support as part of a package of bills called the Protecting America’s Wilderness Act, would permanently protect more than 126,000 acres of public land as wilderness and 19 rivers and their major tributaries as Wild and Scenic Rivers. U.S. Senator Patty Murray has introduced a companion bill in the Senate.
“As someone who grew up on the Olympic Peninsula, I learned first-hand that economic growth and environmental protection go hand-in-hand,” said Representative Kilmer. “I’m proud to see the House pass this practical, balanced strategy, that will protect the wildest and most pristine places on the Peninsula while ensuring we can keep and grow jobs in our natural resource industries and other sectors. I am grateful for the years-long collaboration to create a proposal that works for folks across the community – including Tribes, sportsmen, conservation groups, timber communities, business leaders, shellfish growers, and everyone in-between.”
“I’m thrilled to see the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild Scenic Rivers pass the House this week—an important step in ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy the Olympic Peninsula’s vital resources and beauty,” Senator Murray said. “I applaud Representative Kilmer, local tribes, community leaders, sportsmen, and countless Olympic Peninsula residents for their tireless efforts to get to this point, and I am committed to keeping up the fight in the Senate to ensure this critical legislation becomes law and our prized and pristine wilderness is protected.”
This carefully balanced legislation – which would permanently protect the last remaining acres of ancient and mature forests on the Olympic Peninsula – was developed through years of extensive input from local communities, business, and other stakeholders. In addition to protecting these old growth forests, the bill would provide critical protections for salmon and steelhead habitat, and clean drinking water for local communities, while enhancing opportunities for the outdoor recreation community.
The proposal also reflects feedback provided by local and regional timber interests to ensure the legislation would have no impact on the harvestable timber base. Furthermore, this legislation will not close, decommission, or otherwise restrict access to any existing forest service roads or trailheads, it will not affect any private property rights, and it will not impact how the Washington Department of Natural Resources’ manages state-owned lands.
“I am proud to support Representative Kilmer’s Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. This landmark legislation protects rare wilderness that has been treasured for centuries, while ensuring that natural resource jobs will continue to support Washington’s rural communities,” said Washington Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz in a letter to Rep. Kilmer last week.
More than 800 local area-businesses, farms, faith leaders, sportsmen groups, elected officials, conservation, outdoor recreation, and civic groups have endorsed Wild Olympics, and more than more than 12,000 Peninsula residents have written letters or signed a petition in support.
“It is easy to see and understand the ecological value of the Wild Olympics idea, conserving clean and free flowing rivers, but what is sometimes missed is the economic value that maintaining places like Wild Olympics brings by attracting people to the special outdoors of the Olympic region,” said State Representative Steve Tharinger, 24th Legislative District. “I want to thank REI and Patagonia for engaging local community leaders like myself to help design the map, and for recognizing that encouraging people to get out and enjoy the special places in the Wild Olympics proposal brings economic benefits to the communities I represent.”
“My own experience as a CEO and Entrepreneur is that our area’s natural treasures- which provide world-class outdoor recreation, clean water and our area’s high quality of living- are what give us a competitive edge over other regions in attracting and retaining the talented people new companies require,” said Aberdeen Forest Products Consultant & Former Timber CEO Roy Nott. “Wilderness and wild and scenic river protections would help protect and grow the local jobs that depend on our ability to compete for talent against other regions, and they would enhance our recruitment efforts as we work to grow new businesses in the future. And as a former Timber Industry Executive, I appreciate that Senator Murray and Rep Kilmer’s final compromise proposal was scaled-back to ensure it would not impact current timber jobs.”
“Senator Murray and Representative Kilmer’s Wild Olympics legislation will help protect our state’s shellfish industry, including hundreds of shell fishing jobs in Hood Canal alone – and many more in related industries like processing, shipping and sales,” said Bill Taylor, President of Taylor Shellfish Farms. “It protects the rivers and streams vital to the health of our hatcheries and to the health and restoration of Puget Sound. Our oyster beds depend on the clean, cold, silt-free water that drains off Olympic National Forest into Hood Canal. Protecting these watersheds allows our industry to grow, expand and continue to benefit the economy and ecology of Washington State. We are grateful for their leadership.”
“Conservation for me on the Olympic Peninsula means that the next generation and generations to come can come out here and experience the way that I experience it and the way my grandpa experienced it when he fished out here and that forever we always have this – what is wild and what is the Olympic Peninsula and our culture today,” said Ashley Nichole Lewis, Bad Ash Fishing Guide Service in Tahola.
A native of the Olympic Peninsula, Rep. Kilmer has also worked to protect the health of the forests and responsibly increase harvest levels. He helped create the Olympic Forest Collaborative in an effort to bring together members of the timber industry and the environmental community to ensure that the region’s forests are managed in a way that improves economic and environmental health. In 2019, he secured a $50 million increase for the U.S. Forest Service’s non-firefighting activities, including a $5 million increase for Forest Products. In addition, he authored a provision in the FY2020 appropriations package highlighting the value of collaborative forest management and directing the U.S. Forest Service to prioritize resources to better leverage support from existing Forest Collaboratives to expedite project development and approval of forest treatments developed by Collaboratives.
Kilmer Receives Recognition from Nation’s Largest Native American Organization
Award Acknowledges Rep. Kilmer’s Efforts to Create Jobs in Indian Country and Make Government Work Better for Tribal Communities.2/ 12/ 20 Press release
Washington, DC – On Tuesday, Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) received the 2020 Congressional Leadership Award from the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization serving the interests of tribal governments and communities.
Rep. Kilmer, who represents 11 Native American tribes, was recognized for his work in creating economic opportunity in tribal communities and advocating for reforms to ensure the federal government is more responsive to tribal needs. NCAI pointed to Rep. Kilmer’s leadership in pushing for the groundbreaking 2018 report, “Broken Promises: Continuing Federal Funding Shortfall for Native Americans,” authored by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, which examines the federal government’s continued failure to meet its treaty and trust responsibilities to Native Americans and Alaska Natives. Rep. Kilmer was also recognized for his leadership on the Appropriations Committee as well as his commitment to supporting legislation that respects tribal sovereignty and creates parity for tribal communities within existing federal laws.
“Each of the sovereign nations I represent has their own unique culture, traditions, and stories that add important threads to the fabric of our region and our nation. Their willingness to share their stories, to educate me, to work with me to build a brighter future, gives me hope,” said Rep. Kilmer. “For generations, the federal government has failed to uphold the promises made to Native Americans in our region and across the country. I’m working to change that – and I’m committed to doing all that I can to ensure the federal government honors its trust and treaty obligations. I’m also working to make sure we’re creating more economic opportunities for tribal communities and to ensure the federal government works for everyone. I’m honored to receive this award – and I’ll keep fighting for Indian Country.”
“From the very first day he began representing the 6th Congressional District of Washington, Congressman Kilmer has worked tirelessly to ensure the federal government honors its trust and treaty obligations to Tribes. He has been an important leader in Congress on issues critical to Tribes including climate change, expanding self-governance and fully funding the BIA and Indian Health Services. I would like to thank Congressman Kilmer for his invaluable support of Tribal Nations and congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition.” - President Fawn Sharp, Quinault Indian Nation
“Rep. Kilmer has been a great federal partner. He takes the trust responsibility seriously and he always makes the needs of the tribes of his district and the nation a priority. I'm proud to have Derek as the Suquamish Tribe's Representative and as a good friend.” - Chairman Leonard Forsman, Suquamish Tribe
“Derek Kilmer has always been a man of the highest integrity and character. Early in his life he wanted to understand Tribes and our cultures. Not just in the northwest corner of Washington State but throughout Indian Country. Even though he is in the early phases of his career in Congress, he has already had an enormous positive impact. He is a friend of the Tribes and is making a difference.” - W. Ron Allen, Tribal Chair/CEO, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe
“We can think of no one better to receive the NCAI 2020 Congressional Leadership Award then our own WA-6th District Representative Derek Kilmer. Since his very first term in office Congressman Kilmer, his entire staff and family have shown Makah and our neighboring Tribes in the Pacific Northwest a high level of respect and a strong commitment to upholding policies of self-determination and federal trust responsibility – traits that should serve as a model for the rest of the Country.” - Makah Tribal Council Chairman T.J. Greene
“The Hoh people raise our hands up in thanks to Rep. Kilmer for his tireless efforts and hard work on our behalf and his leadership in the U.S. Congress. Rep. Kilmer’s record of standing strong to address climate change, protect treaty rights, and support tribal sovereignty have been invaluable to Hoh and to tribes across the country.” - Chairwoman Dawn Gomez, Hoh Tribe
“It’s always encouraging when you see leaders actively participating with the communities they represent. That’s Congressman Kilmer, who has always been very hands-on in trying to understand our Tribe’s needs and supportive of programs, like Re-Entry, that help people improve and better their lives. He is thoughtful and compassionate, and I am grateful for his partnership and leadership. He is a deserving recipient of the 2020 Congressional Leadership Award, and I congratulate him for this and all his accomplishments.” - Port Gamble S’Klallam Chairman Jeromy Sullivan
“I want to thank the National Congress of American Indians for selecting our Congressman Derek Kilmer for its 2020 Congressional Leadership Award. Congressman Kilmer has been an outstanding member of Congress since the day he stepped into the very big shoes of Congressman Norm Dicks. He has represented this District with integrity. He has served the Tribes in his District, including the Skokomish, with dedication and a strong commitment to our sovereignty. It is an honor to call him our Congressman and friend. I congratulate him on this well-deserved award.” - Chairman Charles “Guy” Miller, Skokomish Indian Tribe
“Congressman Kilmer has been a tireless advocate not only for Indian tribes in Washington state, but for Indian country generally. The Chehalis Tribe is especially grateful for his work protecting the integrity of Indian programs in the appropriations process.” - Chairman Harry Pickernell, Sr., Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation
“Congressman Kilmer is a friend but far more important he is a champion of living up to the promises of the treaties. He is a friend of the environment the vitality of the Salish Sea. He is guided by the principle of what is right for today and the 7 generations to come. A well- deserved recognition.” - Chairman Arnold Cooper, Squaxin Island Tribe
“Congressman Kilmer had big shoes to fill and hit the ground running. He has been a friend and a champion for Indian Country ever since he was sworn in. Congratulations to our terrific friend and Congressman.” - Chairman David Bean, Puyallup Tribe of Indians
About the National Congress of American Indians:
Founded in 1944, the National Congress of American Indians is the oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization in the country. NCAI advocates on behalf of tribal governments and communities, promoting strong tribal-federal government-to-government policies, and promoting a better understanding among the general public regarding American Indian and Alaska Native governments, people and rights.
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Don't Bring Me Down---ELO
