Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, is calling for the repeal of an “antiquated” law that prevents tribes from operating distilleries. Given the support she received from the House Natural Resources’ Indian Affairs subcommittee during a hearing for HR 5317, Herrera Beutler may succeed.
“I’m pleased to put this bill forward to help place Indian tribes on equal footing with nontribal citizens by allowing them to pursue the same economic opportunities as everyone else,” Herrera Beutler said after Thursday’s hearing. “It’s encouraging that it’s advancing in Congress; it will be a win for the Chehalis Tribe when it’s allowed to build a distillery, brewery, restaurant and educational training facility on its own land. And it’ll be a win for Southwest Washington when we remove this 1834 law because this project will bring more than 100 jobs to our region.”
Chehalis Tribal Chairman Harry Pickernell Sr. testified at the hearing before the subcommittee.
“Much of the tribe’s land is on the flood plain, and the tribe has very little land available for development,” Pickernell said. “The tribe operates a casino but is always looking for a way to diversify its economic base.”
The rule that Herrera Beutler’s bill would repeal is leftover from liquor prohibition rules set in 1834. Anyone who builds a distillery on tribal land faces a $1,000 fine and the government is directed to break up any operations that exist.