[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 78 (Thursday, May 22, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3302-S3303]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 463--HONORING THE LIFE, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND LEGACY 
     OF BILLY FRANK, JR., AND EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON HIS PASSING

  Mrs. MURRAY (for herself and Ms. Cantwell) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 463

       Whereas in the 1850s, the United States Government signed a 
     series of treaties with Washington State tribes under which 
     the tribes granted millions of acres of land to the United 
     States in exchange for the establishment of reservations and 
     the recognition of traditional hunting and fishing rights;
       Whereas Billy Frank, Jr. was born to Willie Frank, Sr. and 
     Angeline Frank on March 9, 1931, at Frank's Landing on the 
     banks of the Nisqually River in Washington State;
       Whereas the tireless efforts and dedication of Billy Frank, 
     Jr. led to a historic legal victory that ensured that the 
     United States would honor promises made in treaties with the 
     Washington tribes;
       Whereas Billy Frank, Jr. was first arrested in December of 
     1945, at the age of 14, for fishing for salmon in the 
     Nisqually River;
       Whereas Billy Frank, Jr. was subsequently arrested more 
     than 50 times for exercising his treaty-protected right to 
     fish for salmon;
       Whereas over the years, Billy Frank, Jr. and other tribal 
     members staged ``fish-ins'' that often placed the protestors 
     in danger of being arrested or attacked;
       Whereas during these fish-ins, Billy Frank, Jr. and others 
     demanded that they be allowed to fish in historically tribal 
     waters, a right the Nisqually had reserved in the Treaty of 
     Medicine Creek;
       Whereas declining salmon runs in Washington waters resulted 
     in increased arrests of tribal members exercising their 
     fishing rights under the Treaty;
       Whereas on February 12, 1974, in the case of United States 
     v. Washington, Judge George Hugo Boldt of the United States 
     District Court for the Western District of Washington issued 
     a decision that affirmed the right of Washington treaty 
     tribes to take up to half of the harvestable fish in tribal 
     fishing waters and reaffirmed that the United States must 
     honor treaties made with Native American tribes;
       Whereas the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme 
     Court of the United States upheld the Boldt decision, and the 
     treaty tribes became co-managers of the salmon resource in 
     the State of Washington;
       Whereas after the Boldt decision, Billy Frank, Jr. 
     continued his fight to protect natural resources, salmon, and 
     a healthy environment;
       Whereas the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, where 
     Billy Frank, Jr. served as chairman, works to establish 
     working relationships with State agencies and non-Indian 
     groups to manage fisheries, restore and protect habitats, and 
     protect tribal treaty rights;
       Whereas Billy Frank, Jr. refused to be bitter in the face 
     of jail, racism, and abuse, and his influence was felt not 
     just in Washington State but around the world;
       Whereas Billy Frank, Jr. was awarded the Albert Schweitzer 
     Prize for Humanitarianism, the Common Cause Award for Human 
     Rights Efforts, the American Indian Distinguished Service 
     Award, the Washington State Environmental Excellence Award, 
     and the Wallace Stegner Award for his years of service and 
     dedication to his battle;
       Whereas the legacy of Billy Frank, Jr. will live on in 
     stories, in memories, and every time a tribal member 
     exercises his or her right to harvest salmon in Washington 
     State; and
       Whereas the legacy of Billy Frank, Jr. transcends his 83 
     years and will provide inspiration to those still around 
     today and those still to come: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) honors the life, legacy, and many accomplishments of 
     Billy Frank, Jr.; and
       (2) extends its heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the 
     family of Billy Frank,

[[Page S3303]]

     Jr., the Nisqually Tribe, all Native Americans, and all 
     people around the world who were inspired by his example.

                          ____________________