[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 67 (Tuesday, May 11, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H2935]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      THE ADMINISTRATION HAS AUTHORIZED THE KILLING OF GRAY WHALES

  (Mr. METCALF asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. METCALF. Mr. Speaker, the day we have all dreaded has arrived. 
After years of U.S. policy in opposition to commercial whaling, the 
Clinton-Gore administration is reopening whaling. In northwest 
Washington State it will begin within a few days. The McCaw tribe has 
been authorized by this administration to begin killing gray whales.
  Whales have been protected in the U.S., and these whales have learned 
not to fear boats. In fact, a multimillion dollar whale watching 
industry has developed, but that is all changing. Once the U.S. allows 
whale killing based on cultural subsistence, what can we say to Japan 
and Norway and the other nations that want to go commercial whaling?
  This is a tragic day, and we will regret that this has happened.

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