Lummi Nation testifies on wastewater failures and calls for tribal set‑asides and streamlined funding

Tony Hillaire, chairman of the Lummi Nation, told the House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee that water is central to Lummi culture and economy and said tribe members and neighboring communities face an ongoing water infrastructure shortfall.

Hillaire described a Gooseberry Point wastewater treatment improvement that took more than six years to assemble funding and nearly three years to construct. He said the total cost was about $18,700,000, with roughly $12,900,000 provided as grants or forgivable loans and the remainder, about $5,700,000, financed through a state revolving fund. "Fixing this problem was not easy," Hillaire testified. "When pollution or failing infrastructure forces our shellfish beds to close, it doesn't just impact the tribe; it shuts down an economic engine that supports tribal and nontribal fishermen, local businesses, and food supply chains."

Hillaire said the Lummi service area includes more than 6,000 residents (Indian and non‑Indian), nine wells, four potable storage sites and three wastewater treatment plants, some components dating to before 1970. He told the committee the tribe has identified about $50,000,000 in federal investment needs and another roughly $46,000,000 in potential projects. He urged Congress to dedicate direct set‑asides for tribal communities and to simplify application and reporting requirements across federal agencies, saying the current system is overly complex and discourages applications.

Rep. John Larson, who introduced Hillaire, noted tribes routinely must engage multiple agencies with different eligibility and reporting standards. Hillaire and members agreed that loans alone are insufficient for many tribal projects and that a mix of grants, forgivable assistance and targeted technical help is often necessary.

The chairman and witnesses agreed to follow up in writing on specific proposals to streamline interagency coordination and on measures to improve tribal access to federal funds.