[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 70 (Tuesday, June 6, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S5486]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            HOLD ON S. 2012

  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, up and down the coast of Oregon, fishermen, 
their families and communities are suffering from the actions of the 
Secretary of Commerce in curtailing the Klamath salmon fishery without 
offering the assistance they need to cope with this disaster. Months 
ago the Pacific Fishery Management Council recommended to the Secretary 
of Commerce that this salmon fishery be drastically curtailed. The 
Secretary responded to the Council's recommendation by slashing the 
quotas and limiting the number of days and areas that could be fished. 
But despite numerous pleas for help from the affected communities, the 
Secretary has done nothing for months and months to help out the 
fishers whose livelihood depends on the Klamath salmon stocks.
  The Secretary's continued inaction is not acceptable, and so I am 
objecting to any unanimous consent request for the Senate to proceed to 
or adopt S. 2012, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Reauthorization Act of 2005 until the Senate can consider 
legislative steps that will help fishermen in Oregon and California 
survive this disastrous fishing season. I make this objection 
consistent with my policy of always announcing ``holds'' I may place on 
legislation or nominations.
  The State of Oregon is seeking a Presidential emergency declaration 
for those affected by this Federal action, and I intend to work closely 
with the State and my colleagues here in the Senate to make sure 
Oregon's fishing communities are not forgotten and that they receive 
the aid they will require to make it through this year.

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