I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2489
To provide for the distribution of judgment funds to the Cowlitz Indian 
Tribe. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 17, 2003
Mr. BAIRD introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Resources 
A BILL 
To provide for the distribution of judgment funds to the 
Cowlitz Indian Tribe.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. COWLITZ INDIAN TRIBE DISTRIBUTION OF 
JUDGMENT FUNDS ACT. 
This Act shall be known as the ‘‘Cowlitz Indian Tribe 
Distribution of Judgment Funds Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
For the purpose of this Act—
(1) The term ‘‘current judgment fund’’ means 
the funds awarded by the Indian Claims Commission
Docket No. 218 and all interest accrued thereon as 
of the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(2) The term ‘‘initial interest’’ means the inter-
est on the funds awarded by the Indian Claims Com-
mission Docket No. 218 accrued during the time pe-
riod from one year before the date of the enactment 
of this Act through the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
(3) The term ‘‘principal’’ means the funds 
awarded by the Indian Claims Commission Docket 
No. 218 and all interest accrued thereon as of one 
year before the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(4) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 
of the Interior. 
(5) The term ‘‘tribe’’ means the Cowlitz Indian 
Tribe of Washington, which was extended Federal 
acknowledgment by the United States Department 
of the Interior on December 31, 2001, pursuant to 
part 83 of title 25, Code of Federal Regulations. 
(6) The term ‘‘tribal member’’ means an indi-
vidual who is an enrolled member of the Cowlitz In-
dian Tribe pursuant to tribal enrollment procedures 
and requirements.
(7) The term ‘‘tribe’s governing body’’ means 
the Cowlitz Tribal Council, which is the tribe’s gov-
erning body under the tribe’s Constitution. 
(8) The term ‘‘tribal elder’’ means any tribal 
member who was 62 years of age or older as of Feb-
ruary 14, 2000. 
SEC. 3. JUDGMENT DISTRIBUTION PLAN. 
Notwithstanding the Indian Tribal Judgment Funds 
Use or Distribution Act (25 U.S.C. 1401, et seq.), or any 
plan prepared or promulgated by the Secretary pursuant 
to that Act, the judgment funds awarded in Indian Claims 
Commission Docket No. 218 and interest accrued thereon 
as of the date of the enactment of this Act shall be distrib-
uted and used in accordance with this Act. 
SEC. 4. DISTRIBUTION AND USE OF FUNDS. 
(a) PRINCIPAL PRESERVED AFTER ELDERLY AS-
SISTANCE AND TRIBAL ADMINISTRATION PAYMENTS.—
(1) Except as provided in subsection (b), the principal 
shall not be distributed under this Act. Only the interest 
earned on the undistributed principal may be used to fund 
such programs. There will be no distribution of any funds 
other than as specified in this Act. 
(2) The Secretary shall—
(A) maintain undistributed current judgment 
funds in an interest-bearing account in trust for the 
tribe; and 
(B) disburse principal or interest in accordance 
with this Act not later than 30 days after receipt by 
the Northwest Regional Director, Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, of a request by the tribe’s governing body 
for such disbursement of funds. 
(b) ELDERLY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.—(1) From the 
current judgment fund, the Secretary shall set aside 20 
percent for an elderly assistance payment. The Secretary 
shall provide one elderly assistance payment to each en-
rolled tribal elder not later than 30 days after all of the 
following have occurred: 
(A) The tribe’s governing body has compiled 
and reviewed for accuracy a list of all enrolled tribal 
members that are both a minimum of one-sixteenth 
Cowlitz blood and 62 years of age or older as of 
February 14, 2000. 
(B) The Secretary has verified the blood quan-
tum and age of the tribal members identified on the 
list prepared pursuant to subparagraph (A). 
(C) The tribe’s governing body has made a re-
quest for disbursement of judgment funds for the el-
derly assistance payment.
(2) If a tribal elder eligible for an elderly assistance 
payment dies before receiving payment under this sub-
section, the money which would have been paid to that 
individual shall be added to and distributed in accordance 
with the emergency assistance program under subsection 
(c). 
(3) The Secretary shall pay all costs of distribution 
under this subsection out of the amount set aside under 
paragraph (1). 
(c) EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.—From the 
principal, the Secretary shall set aside 10.01 percent for 
the Emergency Assistance Program. Beginning the second 
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, interest 
earned on such sum shall be distributed annually in a 
lump sum to the tribe’s governing body and will be used 
to provide emergency assistance for tribal members. 10.01 
percent of the initial interest shall be available upon the 
date of the enactment of this Act to fund the program 
for the first year after the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
(d) EDUCATION, VOCATIONAL, 
AND
CULTURAL 
TRAINING PROGRAM.—From the principal, the Secretary 
shall set aside 10.01 percent for an Education, Vocational 
and Cultural Training Program. Beginning the second 
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, interest
(g) NATURAL RESOURCES.—From the principal, the 
Secretary shall set aside 8.43 percent for natural re-
sources. Beginning the second year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, interest earned on such sum shall 
be disbursed annually in a lump sum to the tribe’s gov-
erning body and may be added to any existing tribal nat-
ural resource program to enhance the tribe’s use and en-
joyment of existing and renewable natural resources with-
in the tribe’s lands. 8.43 percent of the initial interest 
shall be available upon the date of the enactment of this 
Act to fund the program for the first year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act. 
(h) CULTURAL RESOURCES.—From the principal, the 
Secretary shall set aside 4.33 percent for cultural re-
sources. Beginning the second year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, interest earned on such sum shall 
be distributed annually in a lump sum to the tribe’s gov-
erning body and shall be used to maintain artifacts, collect 
documents, archive, and identify cultural sites of tribal 
significance. 4.33 percent of the initial interest shall be 
available upon the date of the enactment of this Act to 
fund the program for the first year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
(i) HEALTH.—From the principal, the Secretary shall 
set aside 20.73 percent for health. Beginning the second
(4) Section 7 of the Indian Tribal Judgment 
Funds Use or Distribution Act (25 U.S.C. 1407) 
shall apply to funds available under this Act. 
(5) Any tribal member who feels he or she has 
been unfairly denied the right to take part in any 
program under this Act may appeal to the tribal sec-
retary. The tribal secretary shall bring the appeal to 
the tribe’s governing body for resolution. The resolu-
tion shall be made in a timely manner and the tribal 
secretary at that time shall respond to the tribal 
member.
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