Tribes in Columbia River Gorge hit by White House decision
SALEM — The Trump administration is neglecting the U.S. government’s obligation to build new homes for Indians whose original abodes were submerged by dams along the Columbia River, members of Congressional delegations from Oregon and Washington state said.
The hundreds of tribal members are living in dilapidated trailers and other substandard housing along the Columbia River. The promised new homes haven’t been built yet even though decades have passed since the dams were built. Now a funding decision by the White House’s Office of Management and Budget has put even the preparation work on hold.
In a letter, the politicians told Mick Mulvaney, director Office of Management and Budget, that “the federal government has a legal and moral responsibility” to maintain the funding. They urged him to reconsider his decision.
The letter, dated Friday and released to the media on Monday, was signed by Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell of Washington, Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden of Oregon, and Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon. All of the lawmakers are Democrats.
Read more: http://www.mailtribune.com/news/20171030/tribes-in-columnia-river-gorge-hit-by-white-house-decision