February 3, 2026
Ms. Cantwell introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs
To amend the Puyallup Tribe of Indians Settlement Act of 1989 to clarify that amounts in the Puyallup Tribe of Indians Settlement Trust Fund may be withdrawn by the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Helping Our People Act of 2026
or the kʷaxʷad tiiɫ ʔiišədčəɫ Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Withdrawal of trust fund by Puyallup Tribe of Indians
(a) Permanent trust fund for Tribal members
Section 6(b) of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians Settlement Act of 1989 (Public Law 101–41; 103 Stat. 87) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(6)
Amounts in the trust fund may be withdrawn by the Tribe pursuant to the American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.) under a management plan approved by the Secretary under that Act.
(b) Savings provision
The Puyallup Tribe of Indians Settlement Act of 1989 (Public Law 101–41; 103 Stat. 83) is amended by adding at the end the following:
14. Savings provision
Nothing in this Act prevents the United States from engaging with the Tribe, on the same basis as other federally recognized Indian Tribes, under any Federal law enacted after the date of enactment of this Act.