Letter to John Happy Camp from Statement of Fred Whitworth, Chairman, Tribal Council, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes: Hearing on H.R. 3333

Fred Whitworth, Chairman of the Tribal Council of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation in Montana, supports H.R. 3333 and H.R. 3830 for the disposition of judgments in favor of the Tribes. The total amount of the award is approximately $24,923,187.00, with 10% to be retained for tribal programs. The Tribes propose a distribution of 90% of the funds to individuals over 18 years old and request the Committee's favorable consideration of the bills. The Tribes have approximately 5600 members, half of whom live off the reservation. The Tribes own hydroelectric sites and are involved in a legal dispute over rental charges with the Montana Power Company.