[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 32 (Tuesday, March 2, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H832]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        AMERICA'S SALMON STOCKS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 19, 1999, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Metcalf) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. METCALF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about an issue of 
great importance to me and to my constituents in Washington State. I 
have long been deeply concerned about our salmon stocks. I spent two 
summers working on salmon rehabilitation in Alaska more than 50 years 
ago. This little salmon pin that I'm wearing was a symbol for the 
organization my father started in 1949. I have not come just lately to 
an interest or commitment to salmon recovery.
  Recently the Pacific Northwest salmon runs have drawn national 
attention as the Puget Sound chinook salmon has been proposed for 
listing as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act later 
this month. This listing could have a devastating impact on the economy 
and lifestyle we enjoy in the Northwest if we do not use our technology 
and common sense. Disaster can be averted if we are granted enough 
funding to make salmon recovery measures effective, and if we can 
continue to engage local communities in the fight.
  Of course, we must utilize all of the available science and 
technology in our efforts to restore salmon populations. The people of 
the Northwest have been around salmon all their lives. I believe the 
will exists in our community not only to save but to enhance the salmon 
runs.
  Grass roots organizations have sprung up all over the region to deal 
with this problem, and local governments in the area are forming their 
own recovery plans. As long as citizen involvement remains a part of 
the process and we rely on sound science and proper use of technology 
available, I am confident that salmon runs can be shepherded back to 
historic levels.
  Federal dollars are absolutely essential if we are serious about 
restoring salmon runs. The President has included $100 million in his 
budget to help the salmon recovery. While I am encouraged that the 
administration is turning its attention to this issue, the amount of 
money the President has announced is wholly inadequate to address the 
problem.
  We cannot afford to waste time or money with small, ineffectual 
measures. A large investment is necessary now if we want to avoid 
larger costs in the future. It will be up to the Pacific Northwest to 
spend our salmon dollars wisely, to make good on our commitment to 
restore salmon runs.

  Many people focus only on habitat restoration and natural spawning 
when talking about this issue. These are vitally important, but we must 
not lose sight of other elements in salmon recovery. Sound science and 
technology must play a crucial role in any plan. We cannot use 1924 
technology to solve a 1999 problem.
  During my lifetime we in the Pacific Northwest have developed salmon 
technology that has been successful around the world to accomplish 
miracles in salmon production in Japan, Chile, and Scotland. It would 
be foolish not to use it now in our own State. We know how to 
successfully use remote egg boxes, spawning channels, over-wintering 
sloughs, culvert mitigation, small stream rehabilitation, the 
downstream migration of salmon stocks, returning adult salmon, and 
predator control, and, yes, hatcheries. We have the technological 
knowhow to avoid the pitfalls of the past. Thoughtfully and carefully, 
we can bring the salmon back if we use all the tools that are 
available.
  Finally, our research into the life cycle of the salmon must 
continue. We do not know all the factors that have led to a decline in 
salmon populations, but we do know that more research is needed on the 
subject. More data must be included on the GIS maps. Research is needed 
on a variety of ocean and near-shore issues.
  Bringing the salmon back to robust levels will not be an easy task, 
but with the determination of the citizens of the Northwest, combined 
with state-of-the-art technology and the proper level of Federal 
support, we will be able to accomplish our goals with minimal impact.

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