[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 76 (Friday, June 16, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5297-S5298]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             HANFORD REACH

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I have come to the floor today to talk 
about a challenge the people of Washington State face. It is an 
environmental challenge, a legal challenge, and a moral challenge. That 
challenge is to rescue a symbol of the Pacific Northwest.
  That challenge is to recover our wild Pacific salmon.
  As anyone who lives in Washington State can tell you, the salmon of 
our region are more than a symbol. They are part of our culture, our 
heritage, our recreation, and our economy.
  Unfortunately, the salmon that were once so abundant in our rivers 
and along our shores are now in danger. In fact, today several species 
of salmon are threatened with extinction.
  When it comes to saving salmon, solutions are not easy to find.
  There are so many different viewpoints to consider. Everyone from 
recreational and commercial fishermen to Native Americans and 
conservationists, to State, local, and Federal officials, along with 
private property owners have a role to play in helping us meet this 
challenge.
  In my time here in the Senate, I have always worked to bring people 
together, and to find solutions that help us meet this challenge while 
still keeping our economy strong.
  Today, I have come to the floor to share with my colleagues and the 
American people some progress we have recently made in meeting this 
challenge.
  I am proud to report that just last week, we took a major step 
forward to save wild salmon. Seven days ago, the President designated a 
vital salmon spawning ground--known as the Hanford Reach--as a national 
monument.
  I was proud to stand on the banks of the Columbia River, beside the 
Vice President, when this historic announcement was made. It was a 
dream come true. For a long time, many of us have dreamed of preserving 
the Reach. There are few places in the world like it.
  For me and my family, as for many families throughout the region, the 
Columbia and Snake Rivers hold deep personal meaning.
  My grandfather settled in the Tri-Cities in 1916. My dad grew up 
there. He watched his hometown become the home of a secret factory--a 
factory now known as the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, a factory that 
would give America the tools to win World War II.
  When my dad came back from his military service in the Pacific 
theater, he was injured, and he had lost a lot of friends in combat. He 
wasn't the same. And the place he came back to wasn't the same either.
  He knew that his hometown--perhaps more than any other--contributed 
to winning the war by producing the weapon that ended World War II. And 
he took a lot of pride in that fact.
  In my own life, I have spent a lot of time in the Tri-Cities. Growing 
up, I remember during my summer vacation getting in our car and driving 
to the Tri-Cities to see my Grandma--watching the hydros and swimming 
in the river with my six brothers and sisters.
  When I was in college, I spent a great summer working at Sacajawea 
State Park at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers. I came 
to respect the history of the area, and the people who lived in the 
community.
  The first time I floated down the Hanford Reach of the Columbia 
River, I was with my daughter, Sara. We were so impressed with the 
beautiful landscape, the fish and the wildlife, and the reminders of 
the vibrant Native American culture that abounds along the Hanford 
Reach.
  As we floated along, we saw the reactors, and I told her about the 
role the Tri-Cities played in helping America win World War II and 
about her grandfather's part in that important piece of history. We 
were both deeply affected by that day on the river, and it is a memory 
I cherish.
  When I started fighting to protect the Hanford Reach, my dad told me 
he thought it was great that I was working to give something back to a 
community that had given so much to our family and to our country. So 
last Friday, when Vice President Gore announced the designation of the 
Hanford Reach of the Columbia River as a national monument, the 
toughest part of that day for me was that I had lost my father a few 
years ago and he was not there to see it happen.
  The national monument designation doesn't just enable us to remember 
our past, it allows us to capture our future--in large part by saving 
wild salmon.
  The Hanford Reach spans only 51 miles of the Columbia River's 1,200 
miles, but it spawns 80% of the wild fall Chinook produced in the 
entire Columbia Basin.
  Thanks to the designation, this vital breeding ground has been 
protected.
  The designation also preserves the unique history of this area.
  Generations of Americans will be able to learn about the sacrifices 
that the people of the Tri-Cities made to help America win World War 
II, and generations more will be able to learn about the long Native 
American history along the Columbia River.
  In addition, the designation will ensure that families can use the 
river for recreation for years into the future.
  This is the right thing to do. And doing the right thing also means 
keeping your promises.
  The people of the Tri-Cities have been given too many broken 
promises. I do not intend to be another link in that chain.
  The designation is not the end of the process, but the beginning.
  As I told the people of the Tri-Cities last week, I will continue to 
work with local leaders to ensure that their voices are heard. Working 
together--with an open dialogue--we can reach the best solution.
  Over the years, a lot of people helped make the designation possible.
  Mr. President, I want the Congressional Record to forever reflect the 
tireless work of people like Rick Leaumont, Rich Steele, Bob Wilson, 
Laura Smith, Mike Lilga, Jim Watts, and Dave Goeke.
  I thank the person who worked side-by-side with me in the House as we 
developed legislative solutions for how to protect the Reach, 
Congressman Norm Dicks, and also Jay Inslee, who has worked hard on 
this issue.
  I also thank the members of my advisory committee, the tribes, and so 
many members of my staff who spent countless hours to save this 
valuable resource.
  I thank Governor Gary Locke for his leadership.
  I thank Secretary Babbitt for recognizing the unique value of the 
Hanford Reach, and Secretary Richardson for his help over the years on 
this and other issues related to Hanford.
  Of course, we owe a debt of thanks to the President and the Vice 
President.
  Over the years, we have asked much of the Columbia River, and it has 
always given generously. It has given us affordable energy, turned a 
desert into a farming oasis, and provided a highway for international 
commerce.
  It is amazing how so very few times in our lives we are given the 
opportunity to truly give something to future generations. That is what 
we are doing with the designation of the Hanford Reach as a National 
Monument.
  Today, I take a moment to thank a person who deserves a tremendous 
amount of credit for the progress we have made in the Pacific 
Northwest.
  Time and again the Vice President has demonstrated his commitment to 
protecting our Nation's natural resources while ensuring that we have 
the strongest economy in our Nation's history.
  He helped us develop habitat conservation plans that allow us to 
conserve our environment while providing stability to our economy. He 
made our salmon treaty with Canada a priority for the U.S. Government, 
and for the past two years he has led the fight to save struggling 
salmon runs.
  To meet the challenges that we will undoubtedly face in the coming 
years, we will need a strong partnership at every level--from the folks 
on the ground to local, State, and Federal officials. There is no 
person--no one--who is better qualified to provide the leadership to 
bring us together and to help us solve our toughest problems than Al 
Gore. The people of Washington State are grateful for his leadership 
and appreciate the gift that this designation is to future generations.
  Before I close, I believe it is important to address one final point 
on this

[[Page S5298]]

subject. I understand Governor Bush plans to visit my State on Monday. 
I expect he will be impressed by what he sees, and he is always welcome 
in Washington. I am glad he is making the trip because, unlike 
President Clinton and Vice President Gore, I do not believe Governor 
Bush has spent much time there.
  Governor Bush, the people of Washington want to know three things:
  First, will you make a commitment to protect the Hanford Reach 
National Monument?
  Will you commit to saving salmon?
  And most importantly, what is your plan for saving salmon?
  When you come to Washington State, Governor Bush, those are the 
questions people will be asking.
  Quite frankly, Mr. President, when it comes to the Hanford Reach, I 
believe that the Governor needs to know that those in Washington State 
who are close to him opposed Federal protection of the Hanford Reach--a 
designation that will save the last free-flowing stretch of the 
Columbia River--and the best salmon spawning ground we have.
  I believe the voters of Washington State deserve to know what 
Governor Bush's intentions are.
  And on the issue of preserving salmon on the Snake River, I have 
heard Governor Bush articulate what he won't do, but I have yet to hear 
what he would do to protect our region's economy while restoring wild 
salmon runs.
  His spokespeople attacked the Vice President on his latest visit to 
Washington State when the Vice President indicated his personal 
interest in helping the region solve the tricky issues related to 
salmon restoration. Bush's people offered no plan, they just attacked 
the Vice President for having one.
  The people of Washington want to hear plans for saving salmon--not 
just attacks, but credible, responsible plans.
  Let me be clear: When it comes to helping the people of Washington 
State meet environmental challenges, just saying ``no'' doesn't cut it. 
The people of my State deserve to know what the President would do to 
save salmon.
  When the Vice President was in Washington State recently he met this 
challenge head-on. He very clearly committed to saving salmon. He said 
that extinction was not an option. And he indicated that in his 
administration, he would call a summit to bring together diverse views 
so we can work together to save salmon.
  He faced the issue in a thoughtful, responsible way.
  In fact, many of my constituents came up to me after the Vice 
President spoke to tell me how impressed they were with the Vice 
President's understanding of the issue and his commitment to protecting 
our natural resources, and to thank me for his leadership on this 
critical challenge.
  Mr. President, the ball is clearly in Governor Bush's court, and it 
is time for him to provide his own answers and vision.
  When Governor Bush enters the State of Washington, residents will be 
listening for his commitment to the Hanford Reach National Monument, 
listening for his commitment to saving salmon, and listening for his 
plan to save salmon.
  The people of my State care about this issue. They deserve to hear 
specific answers.
  I suggest that if Governor Bush leaves Washington State without 
addressing the concerns of Washington State voters on the issue of 
salmon recovery, it would suggest that his trip was more about politics 
and photo-ops than addressing the concerns of Washington State voters.
  I urge Governor Bush to respect the concerns of the people of my 
State, to address their concerns and to answer their questions.
  I pledge to work with the next President to implement a plan that 
will save salmon while keeping our economy sound.
  My hope is for a President who is willing to work with me and the 
other citizens of Washington State in a constructive fashion to address 
the complex issues related to recovering the once might runs of wild 
salmon on the Snake and Columbia Rivers.
  I believe the people of Washington State deserve nothing less.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senator from 
Connecticut is recognized.
  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I commend our colleague from the State of 
Washington. This is kind of a ``Washington hour.'' We not only have my 
colleague who just spoke, but the Presiding Officer from the State of 
Washington. I commend her for her thoughtful comments. While I 
represent the State of Connecticut that is 3,000 miles away, we, too, 
believe it is in our interest to see that the wonderful wilderness 
areas and wild salmon of the Pacific Northwest be preserved and saved. 
I commend her for her efforts. She is not only representing her State 
well, she is representing my State well when she speaks on this issue.
  Mrs. MURRAY. I thank the Senator.

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