Resolution Supporting Whole Washington State Universal Healthcare Bill (I 1362) adopted 7/21/2021

WHEREAS Article 25 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets forth that “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control” establishes a fundamental right to healthcare1;

WHEREAS, in the Declaration of Independence, a foundational document of the Constitution of the United States, declares the responsibility of government to protect certain unalienable rights which include but are not limited to the preservation of “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” we conclude that healthcare is a prerequisite for the latter, and as such is indeed a human right;

WHEREAS 522,000 Washington State Residents have no health coverage, more are underinsured, and lives could be saved by ensuring access to healthcare;

WHEREAS the 2018 platform of the Washington State Democratic Party affirms that “healthcare is a basic human right,” and that “An affordable universal single-payer system to provide the most equitable and effective health care, serving both individual and public health needs2” and;

WHEREAS the 2018 State Democratic Party Platform calls on “Washington State to establish a single-payer system for Washington residents until such time as a single-payer system is enacted nationally;”

WHEREAS a single-payer resolution was adopted by the Washington State Democratic Central Committee in April of 20173;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the 18TH Legislative district endorse Whole Washington state universal healthcare bill (I 1362);

THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the 18TH Legislative district will use its mailing list and online presence to mobilize voters; 

THEREFORE, BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT the upon adoption of this resolution, it be sent to the Columbian, and all local representatives.

1. http://www.un.org/en/udhrbook/pdf/udhr_booklet_en_web.pdf
2. http://www.wa-democrats.org/sites/wadems/files/documents/Washington%20State%20Democrats%20-%20Platform%20-%20160618.pdf
3. https://www.wa-democrats.org/sites/wadems/files/resolutions/WSDCCRES%20-%20817%20-%20170422%20-%20PASS%20-%20HEA%20-%20Single%20Payer.pdf)
4. http://www.epi.umn.edu/let/nutri/disparities/causes.shtm
5. http://www.wholewashington.org/faqs

Adopted 6/16/2021

Resolution For “The Columbia Basin Initiative”

Whereas Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson has proposed a Fish Recovery Plan for the Columbia River Basin, including the Snake River watershed; and

Whereas, the Snake River Dams, built in the 1960s without benefit of Environmental Impact Statements, has resulted in the Northwest spending over $17 billion on fish recovery efforts now has more salmon and steelhead runs listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) today than we did in 1980; and

Whereas all of Idaho’s wild steelhead and salmon are listed as threatened or endangered and that a 1% annual return rate of steelhead and salmon to the Snake River and tributaries is considered unsustainable; and

Whereas the 4 Snake River Dams provides no flood control and breaching is considered the ultimate and best solution to fish recovery in the Columbia Basin; and

Whereas consideration of agriculture is considered by developing WATERSHED PARTNERSHIPS, allowing $3 Billion for Revitalizing Salmon Habitat, Rivers and Streams; and

Whereas the BPA or another entity will receive up to $10 billion in a direct grant as firm clean power replacement (through an RFP process) for 4 Lower Snake River Dams lost generation; and 

Whereas $2.2 billion would be allocated towards replacing barge traffic with enhanced transportation options; and

Whereas $ 425 million would be allocated to Communities for recreational development; and

Whereas $ 425 million would be available for farmers to improve and make more efficient irrigation systems; and

Whereas if the 4 Lower Snake River Dams are removed, AGRICULTURE/DAIRIES/CAFOs must be given certain funding for enhanced nutrient management ($1.6B); and

Whereas, “for decades, Northwest Tribes including the Nez Perce, Yakama Nation, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes have led the effort to restore salmon populations and protect their treaty rights. The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, comprised of 57 Tribes across the region, unanimously adopted a resolution supporting Rep. Simpson’s plan”; and

Whereas Columbia Basin Tribes and States would Become Co-Equal Primary Northwest Fish Managers; and

Whereas the Northwest Power and Conservation Council is currently drafting its eighth 5 year plan regarding regional power development coordinated with a Fish and Wildlife Department and its Fish & Wildlife recovery efforts; and

Whereas existing clean, low-cost, and renewable hydro-power provided by these dams would be replaced by firm clean power (i.e.- renewable to battery storage, pump storage, hydrogen storage, small modular reactors, increased transmission capacity, demand response, energy efficiency or any other means as determined by BPA and the NW Power and Conservation Council); therefore

We, the Washington State LD18 Democrats encourage our elected officials to consider support and implementation for the “The Columbia Basin Initiative”.

Adopted 4/21/2021

Resolution to reinstate the Chinook Indian Nation as a Federally recognized tribe by the Department of the Interior.

Whereas the Chinook Indian Nation became a Federally recognized tribe by the Department of Interior on January 3, 2001 after a 21-year process within the Office of Federal Acknowledgment.

Whereas the Chinook obtained federal status based on sound historical evidence and legal analysis that demonstrated their ongoing presence at the mouth of the Columbia River from time immemorial through the 19th and 20th centuries. 

Whereas the Chinook Indian Nation made significant contributions to the exploration and early economy of the Pacific Northwest, from assisting with the historic journey of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to the Pacific Ocean in 1805-1806 to fur, food, and fuel procurement at Astoria, the first permanent American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains.

Whereas the United States subsequently recognized the Chinook Indian Nation’s tribes and bands in the Anson Dart (Tansy Point) Treaties of 1851, treaties that were not properly ratified by Congress.

Whereas the United States again recognized the Chinook Indian Nation’s tribes and bands during the Isaac Stevens (Chehalis River) Treaty negotiations of 1855.

Whereas the Chehalis River Treaty would have required the Chinook and others to abandon the lands of their ancestors and so was rejected by the Chinook tribes and bands as well as the Chehalis, and Cowlitz tribes. 

Whereas because the United States failed to protect the Chinook people they were marginalized, relegated to occupying the most undesirable lands and generally the victims of racism and oppression within their own homeland on the Columbia River and adjacent seacoast.

Whereas in the Act of March 4, 1911 (36 Stat. 1345), Congress intended to provide restitution to the Chinook people in the form of allotments of land on existing Indian reservations, which the Supreme Court of the United States upheld in Halbert v. United States (283 U.S. 753 (1931).

Whereas Congress further recognized the Chinook people in 1912 by appropriated payments (S. Rep. No. 503, 62nd Cong., 2d Sess. 2,3) for each of the Chinook Indian Nation’s tribes and bands, including the Lower Chinook, the Wahkiakum, the Clatsop, the Cathlamet, and the Willapa in the exact amounts negotiated in the 1851 Anson Dart treaties. 

Whereas this 1912 statute and appropriation passed both houses of Congress and provided part of the basis upon which President Clinton’s Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, Kevin Gover, found a constructive ratification of the Chinook’s Tansy Point Treaties. 

Whereas Congress further recognized the Chinook’s rights to land claims in the Act of February 12, 1925, and again under the Indian (Land) Claims Commission in 1958, identifying them as heirs to the Lower Chinook and Clatsop people under Docket 234, and affirming their right to sue for lands taken. 

Whereas the Tribe was awarded a settlement in 1970 and has remained active on the Lower Columbia River and Willapa Bay in the vicinity of the reservation areas of the Tansy Point Treaties and is well-known to neighboring tribes and other communities.

Whereas all tribes associated with the Chehalis River Treaty are now federally recognized, except the Chinook, and federal status of the Chinook Indian Nation was removed 18 months after acknowledgement by an incoming administration without evidence, analysis, or acknowledgement of their long-standing presence, strong bond, and contributions to Northwest society and culture. 

Whereas Chinook people have survived and maintained language and culture despite decades of neglect by the United States; and 

Whereas the homeland of the Chinook Indian Nation is one of the most economically depressed areas in the region, and restoring Chinook federal recognition will bring much needed support to the economy, health care infrastructure, natural resources, housing needs and tourism.

Therefore be it resolved that the 18th Legislative District Democrats in solidarity with the Chinook Indian Nation request Congress act to restore Chinook recognition with all the rights and privileges originally granted to them under the acknowledgment of January 3, 2001.

February 17th, 2021 the 18th LD Democrats adopted a resolution to "strongly urge the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Clark County Council, Vancouver City Council, Vancouver Police, and all other law enforcement agencies within Clark County commit to Police Body Worn Cameras and create the necessary policies for their use without delay."

Read the full resolution here.

At the December 16th, 2020 Reorganization meeting of the 18th Legislative District Democrats a resolution was adopted that "proudly acknowledges, recognizes, and thanks Drew Griffin for his remarkable contributions to our community and setting an example for the next generation of activists as our fight continues to promote democratic core values, racial, economic and LGBTQ equality & justice."

Read the resolution here.

On 9/16/2020 the 18th LD Democrats adopted a resolution endorsing creation of a publicly owned depository State Bank.

Click here to read the full resolution.

November 20, 2019 the 18th LD Democrats adopted a resolution stating that we "call upon the Washington State Legislature to amend RCW 82.04 so that businesses in which the owners are self-employed active participants, whether established as sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs, or corporations, shall be exempt from the B&O tax on total annual revenue up to $500,000, and the B&O tax shall only apply on the portion of their total annual revenue in excess of $500,000."

Read the entire resolution here.

On March 1st, 2017, the 18th LD Democrats passed a resolution in support of an I-5 Bridge Replacement Project.

On November 2nd, 2016, the 18th Legislative District Democrats passed a resolution in support of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s Opposition to the Construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. 

To read more about the Dakota Access Pipeline and the continuing fight for the tribe's rights, check out Stand with Standing Rock.