S-3224.1          _______________________________________________

                            SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8023

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State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1992 Regular Session

By Senators Snyder, Conner, Johnson, Talmadge, McMullen, A. Smith and Skratek

Read first time 01/15/92.  Referred to Committee on Governmental Operations.Requesting that Congress recognize Washington tribes not officially recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

     TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND TO THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS:

     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

     WHEREAS, The Chinook, Cowlitz, Duwamish, Samish, Snohomish, Snoqualmie, and Steilacoom Tribes of Washington have not been officially recognized by the bureau of Indian affairs on behalf of the United States government; and

     WHEREAS, Federal recognition of these tribes will restore tribal sovereignty, improve tribal governance, clarify tribal status, and establish important tribal rights, powers, and privileges; and

     WHEREAS, These tribes are petitioning the bureau of Indian affairs to secure official federal recognition; and

     WHEREAS, Federal legislation is needed to improve current procedures by which tribes must petition for federal recognition;

     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the Congress of the United States confer the status of federally recognized tribes upon the Chinook, Cowlitz, Duwamish, Samish, Snohomish, Snoqualmie, and Steilacoom Tribes of Washington, and that federal legislation be enacted guaranteeing to all tribes the right to seek federal recognition under a clear, unbiased, and timely administrative procedure.

     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George Bush, President of the United States, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and to each member of Congress from the State of Washington.