[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 78 (Wednesday, May 20, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E757]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        INTRODUCTION OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN RESTORATION ACT

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                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 20, 2015

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce the Columbia 
River Basin Restoration Act, a bill that would bring much needed 
resources to clean up toxic pollution in the Columbia River Basin. The 
Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest. The River 
and its tributaries provide significant ecological and economic 
benefits to the Pacific Northwest and the entire United States. 
Historically, the Columbia and its tributaries have constituted the 
largest salmon-producing river system in the world, with annual returns 
peaking at 16 million fish.
  The Columbia River was designated an Estuary of National Significance 
in 1995 and a Large Aquatic Ecosystem (LAE) by the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) in 2006. Yet it remains the only LAE to receive 
zero Congressional funding pursuant to this designation--despite a 
growing problem of toxic contamination throughout the River Basin.
  Toxic contaminants are present throughout the Columbia River Basin 
and are harmful to public health and ecosystem health. These 
contaminants make their way into fish tissues, which when consumed can 
be damaging to human health. Some of these toxics are known to increase 
cancer risks and have been linked with neurological, developmental and 
reproductive problems, including birth defects and learning 
disabilities. This concern is particularly pressing for tribal 
populations, who rely on local fish as a dietary and cultural staple 
and consume large quantities of resident fish. In wildlife, 
contaminants increase mortality and disease susceptibility and impair 
reproduction and the ability of the fish to avoid predators.
  In 2013, the States of Oregon and Washington issued fish advisories 
warning the public to protect itself against mercury and PCB 
contamination by limiting consumption of resident fish species living 
in the 150 mile stretch of river between Bonneville and McNary Dams.
  This bill authorizes the EPA to establish a voluntary, competitive 
Columbia River Basin grants program to support projects aimed at 
reducing pollution, cleaning up contaminated sites, improving water 
quality, monitoring the Basin, and promoting citizen engagement. 
Eligible entities may include States, tribal and local governments, 
nonprofits, and private landowners. The legislation authorizes $50 
million per year for five years for this effort, which is estimated to 
create between 700 and 1,000 family wage jobs per year in the region.
  The Columbia River is the lifeblood of the Pacific Northwest, but it 
has become dangerously polluted. It is time to clean up the Columbia 
River and improve water quality and river health for generations to 
come.

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