Democrat says Native Americans can't drown because of 'eons' of experience

State Rep. Cindy Ryu (D-Shoreline) is the sponsor of HB 1707, a bill she's been trying to pass for years. It mandates one to wear a personal floating device while on kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards. If you violate the law, you're hit with a citation.

But the law would not apply to members of a federally recognized tribe.

She says they are used to cold water from "eons" of experience and, she implies, they can't drown. This betrays national statistics suggesting Native Americans have the highest rate of drowning deaths in the country.