[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 38 (Monday, March 14, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1597-S1598]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              FWS FUNDING

  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, like many Arkansans, I am very concerned 
about the administration's proposal to cut $6,288,000 from the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, FWS, National Fish Hatchery Operations, 
where the production of fish is for the purpose of mitigating the 
effects of Federal water development projects. Under this proposal, 
several National Fish Hatcheries, including the Greers Ferry and 
Norfork National Fish Hatcheries in Arkansas, are scheduled to lose 
their FWS funding. The reliability of alternative mechanisms to provide 
Federal funding for the operation of FWS mitigation hatcheries is 
currently uncertain.
  I am working with the Arkansas delegation and the administration to 
preserve the ongoing responsibility of FWS to fund and operate the 
National Fish Hatcheries at Norfork and Greers Ferry Dams, and to make 
sure we ``allow the investment in these hatcheries to continue to 
contribute to the economic vitality'' of Arkansas communities and our 
country.
  Accordingly, I ask unanimous consent to have the Arkansas House 
Resolution No. 1014 of 2011, which was adopted in its entirety on 
February 24, 2011, by the Arkansas House of Representatives, printed in 
the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                       House Resolution No. 1014

       Whereas, the United States Fish & Wildlife Service plans to 
     cut the budgets for the trout hatcheries below Norfork and 
     Greers Ferry dams; and
       Whereas, these fish hatcheries provide the foundation for 
     Arkansas's world-renowned trout fishery waters that produce a 
     total economic impact of well over one hundred fifty million 
     dollars ($150,000,000) annually but only 9 cost taxpayers 
     approximately one million five hundred thousand dollars 
     ($1,500,000) annually to operate. The hatcheries at Norfork 
     and Greers Ferry dams alone generate five million five 
     hundred thousand dollars ($5,500,000) in federal tax 
     revenues, roughly three dollars and sixty-five cents ($3.65) 
     for every one dollar ($1.00) invested; and
       Whereas, seventy-five (75) years ago, north Arkansas's 
     White River was arguably the best smallmouth bass stream in 
     America. Fisherman came from all over the country to 
     experience once-in-a-lifetime float trips down the beautiful 
     bluff-lined river; and
       Whereas, upon a series of dams being built in the White 
     River basin in the 1940s, the federal government assured the 
     state's citizens that mitigation efforts would be included to 
     offset the loss of the river's incredibly productive native 
     fishery. The key component of this commitment was the 
     construction of Norfork National Fish Hatchery in 1955 near 
     Norfork Dam and the establishment of world-class trout waters 
     below both Norfork and Bull Shoals lakes; and
       Whereas, a decade later, the trout hatchery at the base of 
     Greers Ferry Dam provided the means for a similarly 
     successful fishery to be established at the Little Red River 
     in Greers Ferry; and
       Whereas, these modest projects rank among the all-time 
     success stories of our federal government because of the 
     overall economic impact and return on investment they 
     produce; and
       Whereas, fish production at the Norfork hatchery employs 
     nine hundred ninety-four (994) individuals, and the Greers 
     Ferry hatchery employs an additional seven hundred fifty-two 
     (752) people; and
       Whereas, dozens of resorts employing hundreds of 
     individuals have been established in these world-class 
     fishing areas because of the increase in tourism. The town of 
     Cotter, Arkansas, for example, bills itself as ``Trout 
     Capital USA''; and
       Whereas, trout fishing in the White River basin is worth 
     about three times the annual flood losses prevented by 
     Beaver, Table Rock, Bull Shoals, Norfork, Greers Ferry, and 
     Clearwater reservoirs, and these structures averted fifty-one 
     million four hundred thousand dollars ($51,400,000) in 
     damages in the last fiscal year; and
       Whereas, the electricity generated from Bull Shoals Lake 
     and Norfork Lake averages approximately one hundred million 
     dollars ($100,000,000) of electricity each year, but the 
     trout fishery is worth an additional fifty percent (50%) more 
     than that on an annual basis; and
       Whereas, investment in the Norfork and Greers Ferry Fish 
     hatcheries has consistently demonstrated positive returns for 
     more than half a century. The federal government's goal to 
     reduce the federal deficit and increase economic growth would 
     be damaged, not enhanced, if funding for trout programs is 
     reduced or eliminated to the detriment of its promise to 
     Arkansas and to these small towns whose livelihood depends on 
     the fish hatcheries: Now therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Eighty-
     Eighth General Assembly of the State of Arkansas, That the 
     President and Congress of the United States work together to 
     continue the immediate and future funding of the national 
     fish hatcheries at Norfork and Greers Ferry dams and allow 
     the investment in these hatcheries to continue to contribute 
     to the economic vitality of these towns, the State of 
     Arkansas, and the entire country; be it further
       Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the House of 
     Representatives forward official copies of this resolution to 
     the President

[[Page S1598]]

     of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives and the President of the Senate of the United 
     States Congress, and to all the members of the Arkansas 
     Congressional Delegation with the request that this 
     resolution be officially entered in the Congressional Record.

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