OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A bill in the state senate would earmark millions in opioid settlement money for tribes to address the fentanyl crisis.

Lummi Chairman Tony Hillaire was among tribal leaders who spoke in favor of the bill on Monday, Jan. 15.

“Having to go to a funeral every single day. Declaring fentanyl crises and state of emergencies in response,” said Hillaire. “At some point we have to step up and address this issue head on.”

Republican Sen. John Braun sponsored the bill.

“As many of the folks on the committee know, Washington’s growth in overdose deaths is the fastest in the country and Native Americans are by a good measure the fastest rate of any race or ethnicity in our state,” said Braun. “Almost double the next grouping.”

The bill would set aside 20%, or at least $7.75 million, of the state’s annual expenditure of funds it’s received from settlements with opioid producers.

That money would go to the state’s tribes for treatment and prevention of opioid use and addiction.