[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 26, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H5696-H5705]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        ENDANGERED SALMON AND FISHERIES PREDATION PREVENTION ACT


                             General Leave

  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous materials on H.R. 2083.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Davidson). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Colorado?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 961 and rule 
XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House 
on the state of the Union for the consideration of the bill, H.R. 2083.
  The Chair appoints the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) to preside over 
the Committee of the Whole.

                              {time}  1429


                     In the Committee of the Whole

  Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the 
Whole House on the state of the Union for the consideration of the bill 
(H.R. 2083) to amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to reduce 
predation on endangered Columbia River salmon and other non-listed 
species, and for other purposes, with Mr. Poe of Texas in the chair.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The CHAIR. Pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered read the 
first time.
  The gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn) and the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) each will control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 2083, a bipartisan effort by Ms. Herrera Beutler and Mr. 
Schrader, aims to cut red tape by updating Federal law to provide a 
temporary, expedited process to give States and Tribes the ability to 
address California sea lion predation of endangered salmon and other 
species on a limited basis.
  Right now, ratepayers in the Pacific Northwest invest hundreds of 
millions of dollars each year to help recovering salmon populations, 
only to have them end up in the stomachs of sea lions. Federal law 
provides conflicting mandates to protect each species but does not 
provide the flexibility to account for broader ecological interactions.
  California sea lion populations on the West Coast have exploded, yet 
salmon runs continue to decline. According to the Northwest Power and 
Conservation Council, the sea lion population has grown to a level of 
roughly 300,000 individuals, and marine biologists conclude that their 
population is currently at carrying capacity.
  Historically, California sea lions have foraged at the mouth of the 
Columbia River, but they have recently continued to move inland. As the 
sea lions move further upstream to feed, their diet exists increasingly 
more of endangered salmon.
  H.R. 2083 will authorize the Secretary of Commerce to provide to 
State and local Tribes the tools necessary to humanely manage sea lions 
that have migrated outside their historic range and pose an imminent 
threat to fish species listed under the Endangered Species Act.
  Federal permits authorized under H.R. 2083 would be limited to State 
and Tribal fishery managers who have a direct stake in a healthy 
regional ecosystem. It is absolutely imperative that we give local 
stakeholders the tools they need for a balanced ecosystem where both 
fish and sea lions can thrive.
  This bipartisan bill has broad support from States, Tribes, public 
utility districts, advocacy groups, and hundreds of local businesses 
across the Pacific Northwest. It is a win for not only the endangered 
fish of the Pacific Northwest, but the ratepayers who are heavily 
invested in keeping these fish stocks flourishing and healthy.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan, 
commonsense bill.
  And that is just the way it is.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to H.R. 2083. This legislation 
claims to

[[Page H5697]]

protect salmon in the Columbia River by authorizing an increase in the 
annual permits to kill California sea lions, Steller sea lions, and 
harbor seals.
  It is true that many of our salmon and steelhead runs are not doing 
well. In 2017, runs of wild salmon and steelhead were the fourth lowest 
since 1979, and the most recent 3-year trend is steadily downward. It 
is devastating, I agree, but we should be legislating to address the 
real threats facing salmon recovery. Impacts to salmon caused by seals 
and sea lions pale in comparison to the harm caused by so many other 
threats.
  Let's take a minute to go over some of the significant threats facing 
salmon: habitat loss and degradation, pesticides and toxic contaminants 
polluting tributary habitats, hydropower, invasive species, hatcheries, 
overfishing, by-catch, human population growth, climate change, and the 
bill the House Republicans pushed today to block court-mandated water 
releases from Federal dams to aid in salmon recovery.
  I cannot support this bill. It does not address the root causes of 
salmon population decline and, instead, unfairly scapegoats sea lions.
  Mr. Chairman, for these reasons, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no,'' 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Washington (Ms. Herrera Beutler).
  Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Chairman, thanks to Kurt Schrader, who has 
been a partner with me on this legislation for a while--actually, since 
before I was here, he has been working on this bill--and today is a 
good day.
  ``I would like to think that there might still be salmon and 
steelhead to fish for when my great-grandkids try fishing.'' That is 
from Bob, who lives in Brush Prairie in my district. I have heard Bob's 
sentiments echoed literally from thousands of folks across southwest 
Washington.
  Unfortunately, our salmon runs are now fighting for survival. It is 
practically a miracle when a fish can make it upstream without getting 
caught between a sea lion's teeth. They certainly don't get caught 
unscathed.
  Mr. Chairman, what we currently have on the Columbia River is an 
ecosystem seriously out of balance. I recently met with local fishing 
guides who, with despair in their voices, told me between 70 and 100 
percent of the fish they land show visible signs of a struggle with a 
sea lion, barely escaping becoming a meal for the already engorged sea 
lions. We are seeing fewer and fewer salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon 
make it past this gauntlet of sea lions as the fish make their way 
upstream.
  Donald from Vancouver told me the other day he reeled in a salmon--
half of a salmon. A sea lion was fighting him for the other half.
  Look, we are not anti-sea lion. Oh, my goodness, no. We are just for 
protecting our native fish, a Pacific Northwest icon, and in order to 
do that, we have got to make it easier to remove some of the most 
egregious offenders, problematic pinnipeds.
  Sea lions aren't endangered anymore. In fact, they are doing really, 
really well. They weigh a ton. Literally, a Steller sea lion can weigh 
up to 1 ton. Between the California and the Steller sea lions, their 
populations have increased by hundreds of thousands, and now they are 
overindulging on an all-you-can-eat buffet of salmon at numbers that 
are totally unnatural on the Columbia River system. The sea lions are 
winning this battle.

  Forty-five percent of spring Chinook adult salmon disappear between 
the mouth of the Columbia River and the Bonneville Dam. Oregon's fish 
and wildlife agency has concluded after much study that the Willamette 
River steelhead runs are facing a 90 percent chance of extinction due 
to predation.
  That is why we are here today, Mr. Chairman, in a bipartisan effort 
to save our wild fish from being decimated by animals that have 
migrated out of their natural habitat and whose population is ever 
increasing.
  My bill, the Endangered Salmon and Fisheries Predation Prevention 
Act, provides Tribal and government resource managers with the means to 
rapidly respond and remove California and Steller sea lions from 
specific areas where they are posing the most harm to our salmon 
restoration efforts.
  The Columbia River makes up the entire southern border of my 
district. The river is a lifeline for clean, affordable energy and 
brings economic benefit through both recreational and commercial 
fishing.
  While the lethal take of sea lions is a last resort, it is necessary 
to protect the hundreds of millions of dollars in investments that the 
Northwest residents have made to protect and enhance salmon and other 
ESA-listed species on the Columbia River.
  Nonlethal solutions like hazing and, literally, transporting sea 
lions hundreds of miles away and releasing them have not worked. The 
sea lions come right back.
  In Washington State, we are forced to live with a cautionary tale of 
failing to take strong action. In the 1980s and 1990s, Federal 
officials failed to grant the same authority that we are asking for 
today to halt the salmon slaughter in Seattle at the Ballard Locks. By 
the time Congress acted, a whole run of steelhead was decimated.
  Let's not allow history to repeat itself. H.R. 2083 is a much-needed 
solution. The bill would amend section 120 of the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to provide States 
and local Tribes with the tools necessary to humanely manage sea lions 
on the waters of the Columbia River and its tributaries as long as the 
sea lions are not part of an ESA-listed species. This is common sense, 
Mr. Chairman.
  Additionally, this legislation allows not only the Northwest State 
wildlife agencies, but also qualified Tribes to obtain permits to help 
protect the recovery of ESA-listed salmon, authority not granted 
currently under the law.
  Simply put, my bill cuts through the bureaucratic red tape, 
streamlines the permitting process, and allows States and Tribes to 
rapidly respond to remove sea lions from areas they pose the most 
threat to salmon recovery. Mr. Chairman, this is the last line of 
defense against fish runs bordering on extinction.
  This bill enjoys bipartisan support both here in Congress and at 
home. As I mentioned, my friend and neighbor to the south, Kurt 
Schrader, has been an invaluable partner in getting this bill to the 
floor today.
  The CHAIR. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Chair, I yield the gentlewoman an additional 1 
minute.
  Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Chairman, this legislation is supported by 
the Governors of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho; the Columbia River 
Inter-Tribal Fish Commission; the Washington, Idaho, and Oregon State 
Department of Fish and Wildlife; the Ilwaco Charter Association; the 
Coalition of Coastal Fisheries; and the Coastal Conservation 
Association of Oregon and Washington. Public utilities are among the 
bill's supporters.
  I am also pleased a companion bill is moving through the Senate now, 
with bipartisan support, underscoring the urgency of this issue.
  I ask my colleagues to join me today in supporting H.R. 2083. Let's 
make sure our kids and our grandkids and great-grandkids can experience 
the thrill of reeling in their first salmon on the Columbia River.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Chairman, I am disappointed to be standing here today to debate a 
bill that has become quite familiar to the House Natural Resources 
Committee over the past three Congresses.
  I must point out the obvious fact, Mr. Chairman, that killing of sea 
lions is not a silver bullet for a salmon recovery. This bill is a 
five-cent solution to a $10 problem.
  The fact is the sea lion predation pales in comparison to the harm 
caused to endangered salmon runs by habitat loss, dam operation, 
pesticides, invasive species, and several other human activities. The 
bill does absolutely nothing to address any of these major causes of 
salmon decline.
  For example, NOAA Fisheries has found that the estimated salmon and 
steelhead production in the Columbia River basin is over 10 million 
fish below historic levels, with 8 million of that loss attributable to 
hydropower development and operation.
  I must also point out the hypocrisy here. The bill before us today is 
described as a salmon protection act, but

[[Page H5698]]

it follows a series of House Republican priority bills that would push 
the West Coast salmon population to the brink of extinction.
  Just this April, my Republican colleagues pushed through the House 
H.R. 3144, known in the fishing community as the ``Salmon Extinction 
Act,'' intended to block protection measures that experts tell us are 
necessary for salmon survival.
  Last year, we saw similar attacks on salmon, Tribes, and the salmon 
fishing industry when House leadership rushed H.R. 23, also known as 
the GROW Act, through the House. This bill sought to eliminate 
protections for wild California salmon and put California's native 
fisheries and the thousands of jobs it supported on the path to 
extinction, meaning thousands of job losses across California, Oregon, 
and Washington State. House leadership pushed that bill even though 
estimates showed that 78 percent of California's native salmon will be 
extinct this century under current trends.

  The congressional war on salmon has continued with riders in this 
year's appropriations bills. For example, the House Energy and Water 
Appropriations bill, approved by this Chamber earlier this month, will 
block the restoration of salmon runs in the Columbia River and 
California's San Joaquin River.
  As if that were not enough, the Interior and CJS Appropriations bills 
also include riders that are being supported by the Republican 
majority. Yet here we are talking about killing hundreds of seals and 
sea lions because my Republican colleagues claim they want to recover 
salmon.
  Let's be clear: The anti-salmon legislation and riders coming out of 
Congress are far bigger threats to salmon recovery than the sea lions' 
snacking habits. Restoring wild salmon that are under threat requires a 
sophisticated response that tackles the most pressing issues impacting 
salmon populations.
  Instead, we are here today scapegoating marine mammals that are 
themselves under threat from this House's effort to roll back the 
Marine Mammal Protection Act in order to help oil and gas companies.
  Marine mammals and salmon have coexisted together for millennia. 
Unfortunately, neither one has enough defenses against the agenda of 
the Republican Congress. We don't have to pick and choose which 
creatures are worthy of survival. I would encourage my colleagues to 
get serious about addressing the whole range of stressors that are 
driving salmon to extinction: dam operations, pesticides, invasive 
species, and human activities that are preventing full salmon recovery.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to reject today's effort to force 
Congress to pick and choose between wildlife, and I reserve the balance 
of my time.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Chairman, I would only say that, when there is a 
population of 300,000 sea lions, I would not call that endangered. They 
are protected under a Federal law, but they are not found to be 
endangered or threatened, as far as I know.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. 
Schrader), who is also a bipartisan cosponsor of this bill.

                              {time}  1445

  Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Chair, this is what our cuddly sea lions do to our 
iconic salmon in the Columbia and Willamette Rivers.
  Salmon are an important part of the culture, the identity, and the 
economy of the people and Tribes of the Pacific Northwest. It is one of 
the reasons why we, as a region, have put so much time, energy, and 
resources into protecting and recovering these iconic fish.
  Along with my good friend and colleague from the other side of the 
Columbia River, Representative Herrera Beutler, we have worked very 
hard with the three States in our region, our Tribes, our wildlife 
agencies, and our colleagues here in Congress to find common ground and 
to craft a bill that meets our needs to protect endangered salmon, but 
also addresses concerns about what happens to the sea lions.
  Today's consideration of H.R. 2083 marks nearly 9 years that I have 
been working on this legislation with my colleague from Washington. 
During that time, sea lion predation on endangered salmon and steelhead 
runs has increased exponentially, and the results have been dramatic.
  Much like the Ballard Locks in Seattle that my colleague referred to 
earlier, we are facing our own imminent extinction threat with the 
Willamette winter steelhead run if we don't act immediately. That is 
just a fact.
  In the case of the Ballard Locks, we didn't act soon enough. The 
pinniped predation drove that steelhead run to extinction.
  We cannot repeat the same mistake. It is important to note that 
nothing in this bill will harm sea lion populations. They are 
thriving--thanks to the Marine Mammal Protection Act--with a population 
that now hovers in the 300,000 range.
  NOAA has concluded that the California sea lions have reached their 
maximum carrying capacity. It is a remarkable success story. We want 
that to continue. But with this success, we also need to recognize that 
these sea lions no longer need the same level of protections that they 
did when they first passed the Marine Mammal Protection Act in the 
early 1970s, when their numbers were only in the 70,000 range.
  Now they are threatening, in non-historic areas, to move up the 
rivers, where they have no history, and eliminate our salmon. There is 
a 20 to 25 percent predation on these salmon.
  Our bill would allow the selective removal of problematic sea lions 
that are congregating at the Bonneville Dam, Willamette Falls, and some 
of the tributaries of key estuaries.
  Research has shown that removing these sea lions before they 
habituate to these areas prevents additional animals recruiting to 
these areas and would result in having to remove fewer sea lions over 
time.
  We have heard some arguments that we shouldn't focus on sea lions, 
that we should take a comprehensive approach. My good colleague from 
Arizona said there is no silver bullet here. I agree. I agree.
  We have been doing nonlethal hazing for more than 15 years that has 
been totally ineffective. Transport these sea lions to the coast from 
the middle of Oregon, and they are back in 5 days at the Willamette 
Falls.
  Every entity involved in salmon management, from Tribes to fishermen 
to dam operators, has altered their behavior to protect salmon. Pacific 
Northwest ratepayers, through their electric bills, contribute nearly 
$1 billion a year, the biggest fish recovery program in America, a 
third of their electric bill, to help fund the largest fish mitigation 
program.
  This money goes toward the habitat restoration that was alluded to; 
improvements to fish ladders, fish screens, turbines; improving 
hatcheries. It is our responsibility as Members of Congress to 
safeguard the public investment in improving these salmon runs.
  This is not a radical bill. This is a thoughtful, narrow approach 
that is based on sound science, brought to us by the Departments of 
Fish and Wildlife of the three States in question and supported by Jay 
Inslee of Washington and Kate Brown of Oregon, Democratic Governors; 
Butch Otter of Idaho, a Republican Governor; Tribes; wildlife agencies; 
and biologists. Senators Cantwell and Risch have introduced a companion 
bill in the Senate.
  Most importantly, the process will require the following: NOAA still 
will review the permit application and issue a request for public 
comment. NOAA will form a task force to review the application and make 
recommendations. NOAA will conduct a NEPA review.
  We have a great many people doing incredible work.
  The CHAIR. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Chair, I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.
  Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Chair, I just want to thank everyone for their 
strong effort in this area: the Tribes; Liz Hamilton, Bob Rees, and our 
conservation community; Curt Melcher and his team at ODF&W, Shaun 
Clements and Ed Bowles; and our friends on the other side of the river 
at WDFW also. All these folks have been tremendous partners. I can't 
thank them enough.
  Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague from across the river, Jaime Herrera 
Beutler. It has been a great partnership.

[[Page H5699]]

  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support our region and our efforts 
to protect and support our salmon. I ask for your help and to support 
this legislation today.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. DeFazio).
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Chairman, for many, this is an emotional debate. I 
would concede the point that this is not a silver bullet.
  What we are talking about in particular are a few species of salmon 
that are on the verge of extinction, and whether or not this bill 
passes will determine their future. It already extirpated a run at 
Ballard Locks.
  We have a place in Oregon called Willamette Falls, 120 miles from the 
mouth of the Columbia River. Historically, there have been no sea lions 
there. There have been no changes in that structure in 100 years.

  Yet, the passage of wild salmon, which was normally 5,000 to 8,000, 
has dropped down to 500 because of the predation with 40 sea lions 
hanging out, munching, basically, at the fish ladder.
  Here is where sea lions are at. The optimal population is between 
this red line and this blue line. They actually have exceeded that blue 
line, which means they have recently exceeded and now are maybe 
dropping back to the maximum sustainable population.
  We are talking about a few hundred problem animals, which then teach 
other animals where they can get a free lunch. That is really the key 
here. This is based in science. We have a probability of 89 percent of 
extinction of the Willamette winter steelhead that go over Willamette 
Falls because of the sea lions that hang out there.
  They have tried everything: sonic guns, harassment, removal. They 
took them 300 miles away. They swim pretty good; they are back in 5 
days. And they tell other sea lions along the way: Hey, come on, follow 
me. I know a great place to go.
  If we were to remove just a few of these problem sea lions, it is 
very likely that it will be a long time before another set of sea lions 
learns to go 120 miles up the river to the Willamette Falls.
  The CHAIR. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. DeFazio).
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Chair, so the conditions are that these would have 
to be problem sea lions that have been marked; they have been removed; 
they have been harassed; they have come back; and they have to be 112 
miles up the river. This is not a normal condition, that sea creatures 
are 112 miles up a freshwater river.
  There are critical areas on the Columbia, up by the dams, up by the 
Willamette Falls, and in some of the tributaries, which are the most 
productive salmon grounds in the country where they are starting to 
hang out. And they are eating almost exclusively salmon, steelhead, and 
now sturgeon, which are also a threatened species.
  As my colleague from Oregon said, NOAA will review the permit. We 
will have public comment. They will have a task force to review the 
application and make recommendations or modifications.
  There will be a NEPA review. That was one of the critical elements. 
It was a problem with the earlier bill, and a number of us insisted 
upon a NEPA review. NOAA will approve or deny the permit with 
conditions, and that will be monitored on an annual basis.
  Again, the argument that, well, other sea lions are just going to 
take their place, has not been proven by science. In fact, there are 
only a couple of hundred that are these problem creatures and are going 
upstream. Ultimately, others will follow them and become habituated. If 
we can remove the worst of the problem ones, then perhaps we won't drop 
down. In fact, the recent estimates are we are down to a 6 percent 
chance of survival--this is a little out of date--of the winter 
steelhead because of this year's predation.
  There is another chart. I don't have it here. It shows, yes, the 
structures were built 100 years ago. That impeded the winter steelhead. 
There has been a fish ladder. Locks were built there for navigation. 
That hasn't changed in 100 years. So the populations were healthy at 
5,000 to 8,000. Suddenly, now we are down to 512.
  Something is happening. It is the sea lions.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Kilmer).
  Mr. KILMER. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 2083, which would provide 
targeted relief to endangered salmon and steelhead stocks in the 
Columbia River and its tributaries from the threat of predation by non-
native sea lions.
  Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague Ms. Herrera Beutler for her work on 
this bill, and Mr. Schrader from Oregon, and take this opportunity to 
highlight the many weeks of bipartisan negotiations, which included 
revisions from the National Marine Fisheries Service, our State and 
Tribal wildlife comanagers, and other key stakeholders that resulted in 
this compromise bill text.
  It is because of that consensus that I am able to voice my support 
for this bill today. I am thankful for that because I care about salmon 
and protecting salmon. I care about fishing jobs, and I care about 
Tribal treaty rights. And I care about the other animals in our 
ecosystem that rely on a healthy salmon stock, like the endangered 
Southern Resident orca population, of which there are few in our 
oceans, fewer than the number of people who serve in this Chamber.
  We have heard from our State and Tribal wildlife managers that, if 
salmon predation at the Willamette Falls choke point is not addressed 
immediately, there is a 90 percent probability that at least one of the 
winter steelhead populations will go extinct.
  Enhanced management of the sea lion predators at this site would make 
a difference immediately. I also want to underscore that we already 
have years of data to show that nonlethal hazing and relocation 
measures currently employed by our wildlife managers have not been 
effective at controlling the predators. In fact, the problem has only 
gotten worse.
  A decade ago, these predators used to congregate only at distinct 
choke points created by the Bonneville Dam and Willamette Falls. Today, 
they are moving further inland into the narrow tributaries of the 
Columbia basin.
  But there is good news. Research from Oregon State University 
suggests that only a small portion of the sea lion population will ever 
exhibit this behavior and removing these animals before they acclimate 
to these areas prevents additional animals from learning this behavior.
  So, the sooner we act, the fewer animals that will ultimately be 
affected.
  To put this in perspective, of the 4,000 California sea lions in the 
Columbia River estuary, only about 200 ever swim upriver past the 112-
mile mark. It is these animals that are having the greatest effect on 
the most vulnerable stocks in the watershed.

  I will tell you what is at stake: Jobs. It is the livelihood of our 
commercial, recreational, and Tribal fishermen who are counting on us 
to rebuild these stocks. It is the future of our Southern Resident orca 
population that depends on spring chinook as a key food source. It is 
the identity of the Pacific Northwest that, in many ways, is defined by 
these iconic fish.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan compromise 
so that our State and Tribal wildlife comanagers have the tools they 
need to address this threat in the most responsible and targeted way 
possible.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Chair, I include the Record letters of support for 
this legislation from Trout Unlimited, the Pacific Coast Federation of 
Fishermen's Associations, and an additional list of supporters.

                                              Trout Unlimited,

                                                    June 26, 2018.
     Re Trout Unlimited Support for H.R. 2083, Endangered Salmon 
         and Fisheries Predation Prevention Act.

     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative: We, the undersigned represent the 
     nearly 10,000 members of Trout Unlimited in the states of 
     Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Trout Unlimited is the 
     country's largest and oldest, coldwater conservation 
     organization with over 300,000 members and supporters 
     nationwide.
       TU has been deeply engaged in wild salmon and steelhead 
     recovery efforts in the Columbia Basin for several decades, 
     and it is our goal to restore healthy, fishable, naturally 
     reproducing salmon and steelhead populations.
       Many issues impact salmon and steelhead recovery efforts in 
     the Columbia Basin.

[[Page H5700]]

     Habitat degradation, hydropower operations, harvest and 
     hatchery management issues are all significant factors. This 
     legislation will help to provide resource managers with the 
     necessary tools to help reduce predation by pinnipeds, a 
     problem which has become increasingly significant over the 
     last decade, and is particularly impactful at key locations, 
     such as Willamette Falls.
       Pinniped predation rates in the basin are significant. NMFS 
     marine mammal biologists believe that sea lion predation 
     accounts for 20% of Spring Chinook Salmon losses in the 
     Columbia. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has 
     completed a risk analysis that place the likelihood of 
     extinction for wild winter steelhead in the Willamette river 
     at 90% due in part to pinniped predation at the falls in 
     Oregon City.
       H.R. 2083 would amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act to 
     allow NOAA to issue permits allowing state agency 
     representatives in Washington, Oregon and Idaho, as well as 
     several area tribes to use lethal take of sea lions in a 
     portion of the Columbia river or certain tributaries in order 
     to protect fish from sea lion predation.
       While we support a targeted approach to culling individual 
     sea lions in specific areas to help reduce the impact to wild 
     salmon and steelhead populations, we recognize that this 
     action is necessary, but not at all sufficient, to help 
     recover salmon and steelhead populations. To rebuild wild 
     salmon and steelhead we need to take a comprehensive, 
     science-based approach that addresses other major factors in 
     their decline. Restoring their habitat, improving hatchery 
     operations and fine-tuning angling regulations must be part 
     of the long-term solution. Many of these actions are 
     underway, and we need to redouble these efforts.
       We urge you to vote yes on H.R. 2083.
           Sincerely,
     Terry Turner,
       Oregon Council Chair.
     Ed Northern,
       Idaho Council Chair.
     Brad Throssel,
       Washington Council Chair.
                                  ____

                                          Pacific Coast Federation


                                  of Fishermen's Associations,

                                                    June 25, 2018.
       Dear Representative: The Pacific Coast Federation of 
     Fishermen's Associations (PCFFA) is the largest organization 
     of commercial fishermen on the West Coast, representing the 
     interests of hundreds of family-owned commercial fishing 
     operations who harvest and deliver fresh seafood to American 
     consumers and for export. Collectively, we represent many 
     thousands of family wage jobs and a West Coast commercial 
     fishing industry that contributes billions of dollars to the 
     U.S. economy.
       On behalf of the hundreds of hard working commercial 
     fishermen we represent, we write to request your SUPPORT for 
     H.R. 2083, the Endangered Salmon and Fisheries Predation 
     Prevention Act. This bill would allow state and tribal 
     wildlife managers to apply for a permit to humanely euthanize 
     individual marine mammals in the Columbia River that are 
     known to prey on endangered salmon as they line up at fish 
     ladders attempting to return to their natal streams to spawn.
       This bill provides an immediate, surgical solution to a 
     significant problem in a highly impacted western river, the 
     Columbia. Impediments to fish passage and severe flow 
     curtailment from hydropower dams have resulted in severe 
     depletion of the Pacific Northwest's most productive salmon 
     river. These impacts have cost commercial fishing families 
     billions of dollars in lost opportunity. While long-term 
     solutions including dam removal and robust instream flow 
     requirements will ultimately be required, immediate-term 
     approaches like this bill are desperately needed. The 
     limited, targeted culling of salmon predators on the Columbia 
     is one such solution that will yield immediate results while 
     long-term approached can be designed. We therefore urge your 
     support for this bill.
       Thank you for your consideration.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Noah Oppenheim,
     Executive Director.
                                  ____

       American Sport Fishing Association; Association of 
     Northwest Steelheaders; Coastal Conservation Association of 
     Washington; State of Idaho; State of Oregon; State of 
     Washington; Chelan PUD; Douglas PUD; Grant PUD; Northwest 
     RiverPartners; Yakima Bait co.; Leisure Sales; North Point 
     Personalized Wealth; Northwest Sportsman Magazine; O'Loughlin 
     Trade Shows; Island Creative Printing & Publishing; Active 
     Outdoors; Stevens Marine; Day One Outdoors, LLC & CK; Eagle 
     Cap Fishing Guides.
       Skylen Freet Guided Sportfishing, LLC; Dick Nite Spoons, 
     Inc.; Poulsen Cascade Tackle, LLC; Western Fishing Adventures 
     Ltd.; Bill Monroe Outdoors, LLC; Angler Innovations, Inc.; 
     Smokehouse Products, LLC; D & G Bait, Inc.; Oregon, Rod, Reel 
     & Tackle; Total Fisherman Guide Service; BPG Wealth; It's All 
     Good Guide Service; Luhr Jensen & Son's; McKenzie River 
     Guides Association; The Merifield Company; FISHENG PRODUCTS; 
     Seasonal Marketing; Team Hookup Guide Services; OLLIE 
     DAMON'S; Maxima Fishing Line; Three Rivers Marine; Oregon 
     Tackle Mfg; Northwest Guides and Anglers Assocation; 
     Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association; Public Power 
     Council; Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission; Pacific 
     Coast Federation of Fishermen's Association; Bayside Guided 
     Adventures; BS Fish Tales Inc--Brad's; Pro-Cure Inc.; NW Fish 
     Quest; Silver Horde Fishing Supplies, Inc.; Harry 
     Bresnahans's Guide Service; Fisherman's Marine and Outdoor; 
     Jeff Robles & Associates; Hawken Fishing LLC; Morton and 
     Associates; Ancient Mariner Guide Service; Robin Daft; Bob's 
     Sporting Goods.
       Anderson & Anderson Engineering, LLC; Big Rock Sports; Big 
     C Tackle; Fish-Field Inc.; Fish Marketing; LEO Flashers; On 
     Target Outdoors, LLC; Gunarama Wholesale; Elbe Mall; 
     Lamiglas; Maschmedt & Associates; Jemama Dreams; Trucke's 1-
     Stop; Tillamook Sporting Goods; Renaissance Marine Group, 
     Inc.; North River Boats; Coho Steel; S&C Rod Racks; Baxter 
     Industrial Analysis; Twisted Waters Guide Service.
       Anderson's Outdoors LLC; Jewell School District #8; Bob 
     Rees' Fishing Guide Service; Rubber Resource, Inc.; United 
     States Gypsum; Peck's Guide Service; Winter Run Guide 
     Service; Paradise Guide Service; Township Properties; 
     Northwest Angling Experience; Metro Aviation; Astoria Fishing 
     Charters; The Guide's Forecast; Grant's Outdoors Adventures; 
     Fish It All Guide Service LLC; Oregon River Trails Outfitter; 
     Brandon's Guide Service; Anglers Obsession; Austin's 
     Northwest Adventures; Fishhouse Outdoor Company Guide.
       Ocks Fishing Adventures; Land and Wildlife, Bill Meyer 
     Fishing; CT Sport Fishing; Brookings Fishing Charters; 
     Sharkys Charters; BC Angling Supply; Frank Amato 
     Publications; Pat Abel's Guide Service; River Trail 
     Outfitters; Coho Design; NW Rods; Wild Salmon Center; Coastal 
     Coalition of Fisheries; Ilwaco Charter Association; Westport 
     Charter Boat Association; Salmon For All; Puget Sound 
     Anglers; Coastal Trollers Association; Ilwaco Fish Company; 
     Englund Marine Inc.; Sheldon Oyster Company; Excel Fishing 
     and Charters.

  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Newhouse).
  Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chair, I am proud to be able to rise and speak on 
this bill. I am a proud cosponsor of H.R. 2083, the Endangered Salmon 
and Fisheries Predation Prevention Act, and I encourage all of my 
colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this legislation.
  This bill was introduced on a bipartisan basis by members of the 
Pacific Northwest delegation to address the matter of predatory sea 
lions that are consuming alarming numbers of endangered salmon, 
steelhead, and other fish species in the Columbia River and its 
tributaries.

                              {time}  1500

  Over the past few decades, sea lion populations have increased 
tenfold, causing sea lions to expand their search for food. There is 
just too many of them for their traditional food sources.
  Well, Mr. Chairman, they have found that source. Sea lions swimming 
up to the Bonneville Dam are gorging themselves on endangered salmon 
not only for food, but, Mr. Chairman, there are so many of them, they 
are also doing it for sport. I have seen this myself while visiting a 
dam, where I saw what scientists and river managers regularly see: fish 
passing by--through those windows that you can watch the migrating 
salmon--with massive bite marks through their bodies. Most of the time, 
that leads to fatality for these fish.
  A recent NOAA study found that sea lions consumed up to 45 percent of 
several stocks of returning adult salmon last year. The Oregon 
Department of Fish and Wildlife found that winter steelhead will go 
extinct if sea lion populations are not managed, placing the likelihood 
of extinction at 90 percent.
  This bill would stop this severe problem by amending the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act to allow NOAA to issue permits allowing State 
agencies and regional Tribes to use lethal take of sea lions in certain 
portions of the Columbia River and its tributaries. This legislation 
will help protect fish from sea lion predation and is desperately 
needed in order to save an endangered fish species.
  Unfortunately, Ranking Member Grijalva and the minority of the House 
Natural Resources Committee have once again reverted to fear-mongering, 
just as they have done on other issues facing the Pacific Northwest. I 
have heard this legislation called the ``Slaughter Seals and Sea Lions 
Act,'' and it claimed the legislation will authorize a ``massive 
increase in annual permits to kill sea lions and seals.'' Nothing could 
be further from the truth.
  This legislation demonstrates a targeted approach and a bipartisan, 
concerted effort over many years to come

[[Page H5701]]

to a consensus on this serious issue. In fact, the bill places strict 
limits on sea lion removal that are one-tenth the amount NOAA states 
would have no impact on sea lion population.
  I am disappointed in these outlandish and false claims that the 
minority has propagated. The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the 
Yakama Nation state: ``We are saddened to see such an inaccurate, 
emotional, and nonscientific attack on legislation our region is 
desperate to see enacted.'' And, Mr. Chairman, I could not agree more.
  Fortunately, the wide-ranging coalition and bipartisan support behind 
this legislation speaks for itself: from the three respective Governors 
of the three States of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho; to the Yakama, 
Nez Perce, Warm Springs, and Umatilla Tribes; to groups like the 
Pacific Power Council, Northwest River Partners, Trout Unlimited, and 
Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, this legislation 
is supported by environmental organizations, the fishing industry, 
power and utility interests, State and Tribal governments, and both 
Democrats and Republicans alike right here in the House and in the 
Senate.
  The ranking member earlier stated that this bill is not a silver 
bullet, and, Mr. Chairman, I don't disagree. I certainly acknowledge 
that this is just one tool to continue the tremendous efforts and 
significant resources our region has devoted to fish protection and 
mitigation, but it is an important one.
  I continue to advocate for sound science approaches to managing our 
Columbia River system, including speaking out against the recklessly 
mandated spill order currently placed upon the Federal river system. 
That is why I supported H.R. 3144 earlier this year to stop this spill 
and to provide the experts who manage our river system with the ability 
to do so in a manner that is best for our fish species.
  For the record, the minority of the House Natural Resources Committee 
called the bill the ``Salmon Extinction Act''--more disappointing 
hyperbole. I would encourage the ranking member and his staff to focus 
more on the science and less on the radical rhetoric.
  Mr. Chairman, just as my bipartisan colleagues support this 
legislation we consider today, I continue to plead for my colleagues on 
the other side of the aisle and in the Senate to recognize the science 
showing how dangerous spilling to the gas caps is.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 
2083.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Heck).
  Mr. HECK. Mr. Chairman, I sincerely thank the ranking member for 
yielding.
  Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 2083.
  You have heard a good number of arguments in favor of this bill 
today: the urgent threat posed by sea lions to endangered salmon and 
steelhead; the fundamental importance of salmon to the economy and 
culture of the Pacific Northwest and, especially, the native peoples 
who have depended on these stocks since time immemorial.
  But I want to talk about another reason, which was alluded to 
earlier, and that is the issue of the orca. June happens to be National 
Orca Month in Washington State. The southern resident orcas are an 
iconic species for us. They reside principally in the Puget Sound, and 
they are dying. The very fish that are taken by these sea lions migrate 
there and are an important part of their food stock.
  There are 75 resident orcas left, less than when they were put on the 
endangered species list, fewer orcas today than when they were listed. 
A large part of it is that they don't have enough Chinook salmon to 
eat, and the reason for that is because the sea lions are eating them 
first.
  I want to remind the Chamber these sea lions are not even indigenous 
to the Columbia River. They have only been here a little more than 
three decades. They came here and found lunch and, along with it, put 
our orca at risk.
  Our State resource managers estimate sea lions consume about 20 
percent of the Columbia's spring Chinook run--20 percent, one in five.

  We all recognize saving these iconic orcas will take a comprehensive 
solution. I don't deny that. And, of course, it isn't a silver bullet, 
but it will help. It is something this body can do today to save our 
orcas.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, with my 
compliments to the gentlewoman from the Third Congressional District 
and all who have worked so tirelessly on behalf of H.R. 2083.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  H.R. 2083 authorizes the lethal taking of over 1,000 sea lions and an 
unknown amount of seals annually. Counter to what we have heard, the 
bill will not significantly aid in the recovery of salmon populations 
but needlessly targets seals and sea lions.
  I think we have to put this piece of legislation in context to what 
this House has done and what the Natural Resources Committee has done: 
a pattern. It is another example of how my Republican colleagues view 
wildlife management policy in the 21st century. We have too many 
attacks on wildlife in this Congress.
  Last year, Republicans released a bill to overturn a 2016 judicial 
decision to allow the shooting of cormorants without ever considering 
nonlethal management. The claimed rationale is to protect sports 
fishing and aquaculture, although scant science, evidence, or fact 
exists to prove that the birds significantly impact fish populations.
  In February of last year, this Chamber voted to allow the Fish and 
Wildlife Service to shoot bear cubs from a helicopter and gas wolf pups 
in their dens on Alaska National Wildlife Refuges to artificially 
inflate populations of moose and caribou prized by trophy hunters.
  In the 115th Congress, Republicans have introduced dozens of bills 
and policy riders targeting the Endangered Species Act and species like 
the gray wolf, grizzly bears, greater sage-grouse, delta smelt, and 
Chinook salmon.
  The Trump administration's announcement that the Department of the 
Interior will now consider trophy imports on a case-by-case basis gave 
life to harmful bills in Congress that support trophy killing of 
elephants and lions in African countries for purported conservation 
purposes.
  In the midst of all of the mass shootings in the country, committee 
Republicans tried to disguise an NRA-backed bill as a sportsmen's bill, 
the SHARE Act, which would deregulate silencers and armor-piercing 
bullets. All these attacks on wildlife have been constant, they have 
not been backed in science, and they have not been supported by science 
or fact.
  We all would like to see legislation that would tackle the real 
threats facing imperiled wildlife and, in this particular legislation, 
to do a study to assess that and then to talk about the kinds of 
efforts that could be undertaken to protect the salmon. But to merely 
do that without the science and the study I think is a mistake, and it 
fits into a pattern that is all too common and puts this legislation 
within the same context and the same pattern as the other pieces of 
legislation.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Washington (Ms. Herrera Beutler), who will talk, among other things, 
about the mitigation efforts that the ratepayers have been funding for 
the salmon.
  Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Chairman, I include in the Record a letter 
of support from the Public Power Council and a letter of support from 
the States of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho Departments of Fish and 
Wildlife and the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission.

                                                    June 22, 2018.
     To: Speaker Ryan, Minority Leader Pelosi, and Northwest 
       Congressional Delegation.
     Re Support for H.R. 2083 and S. 1702--To reduce marine mammal 
         predation on endangered Columbia River salmon.
       We come together today to lend our strong and joint support 
     for H.R. 2083 and S. 1702, bills that would reduce predation 
     of endangered adult salmon and steelhead. The Public Power 
     Council (PPC) is a not for profit association that represents 
     about 100 consumer-owned electric utilities in the Pacific 
     Northwest on issues regarding the Federal Columbia River 
     Power System. The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission 
     (CRITFC) provides coordination and technical assistance to 
     the tribes in regional, national, and international efforts 
     to ensure

[[Page H5702]]

     that treaty fishing rights issues are protected in a way that 
     guarantees the continuation and restoration of tribal 
     fisheries into perpetuity.
       In the last few decades, west coast sea lion populations 
     have increased ten-fold. This growing population has expanded 
     its search for food and found it in the Columbia and 
     Willamette Rivers, river systems they had never before 
     accessed. A recent NOAA Fisheries study estimates that 
     pinnipeds consumed between 10-45 percent of some stocks of 
     returning adult salmon in 2017. It is difficult to envision a 
     successful recovery plan for fish listed under the Endangered 
     Species Act without addressing this aggressive predation on 
     the very adult fish that have benefitted from current efforts 
     only to fall short in surviving a return to their spawning 
     grounds.
       H.R. 2083 and S. 1702, introduced in the first session of 
     the 115th Congress, address this concern by building on 
     existing authorities that allow some lethal take of sea lions 
     near Bonneville Dam by appropriate tribal and state entities. 
     Fisheries biologists estimate predation would greatly 
     decrease by incorporating all management activity in the 
     areas of high predation between the mouth of the river up to 
     the dam.
       These bills are widely supported in the Northwest. In 
     addition to this joint support from CRITFC and PPC, regional 
     governors from both parties, along with other industries who 
     rely on healthy salmon and steelhead runs, have come together 
     to back these bills. We are hopeful the proposals will 
     receive broad bipartisan support in the House of 
     Representatives and Senate.
       This situation continues to expand supporters of this 
     legislation among diverse interests in the public, private 
     and nonprofit sectors. Our joint support represents that 
     healthy salmon and steelhead runs are critical to the future 
     of the Columbia River treaty tribes and utilities. This bill 
     would give fisheries managers greater tools to appropriately 
     reduce predation of these endangered fish. Again, we support 
     H.R. 2083 and S. 1702 and urge their expeditious passage 
     through Congress.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Scott Corwin,
                         Executive Director, Public Power Council.
                                                 Jaime A. Pinkham,
             Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish 
     Commission.
                                  ____

                                                    June 25, 2018.
     Hon. Speaker Ryan,
     Hon. Leader Pelosi,
     Hon. Chairman Bishop,
     Hon. Ranking Member Grijalva.
       As directors of the co-managing agencies charged with 
     conserving fish and wildlife in Oregon, Washington, and 
     Idaho, we are writing to express our support for H.R. 2083, 
     the Endangered Salmon and Fisheries Predation Prevention Act, 
     with amendments proposed by our three agencies and the 
     Columbia River treaty tribes. Passage of this legislation is 
     critical to ensuring we can manage the ever-increasing issue 
     of predation on sturgeon, lamprey, and Endangered Species Act 
     (ESA)-listed salmon and steelhead in the Columbia Basin.
       Our agencies are acutely aware of the many issues facing 
     salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon in the basin. We continue to 
     advocate for actions to the hydro-system, hatcheries, 
     harvest, and habitat to support the recovery of this region's 
     iconic fish runs. However, if we avoid taking the hard step 
     of managing sea lions in the basin, recovery will be all the 
     more difficult for some stocks, while others will be placed 
     on a rapid pathway to extinction. We have already seen this 
     happen at Ballard Locks in Washington. Sea lions are not a 
     scapegoat, but managing predation is now an essential part of 
     recovering fish runs in the Columbia.
       As amended, H.R. 2083 ensures that we retain the strong 
     environmental protections of the Marine Mammal Protection Act 
     (MMPA) and the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), 
     while allowing managers the flexibility to manage sea lions 
     in the Columbia basin. The changes proposed in the bill will 
     allow the MMPA and the ESA to work together to benefit both 
     fish and sea lions.
       H.R. 2083 provides managers flexibility to proactively 
     remove sea lions that are foraging on ESA-listed salmon, 
     steelhead, and sturgeon over 100+ miles from the ocean. These 
     are locations where sea lions did not historically forage. 
     Over a decade of scientific research has shown that 1) the 
     diet of sea lions at these locations is almost exclusively 
     salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon and 2) once sea lions locate 
     these areas, they return year after year. It only makes sense 
     to recognize the body of science that has accumulated on this 
     issue and adjust our management accordingly to prevent sea 
     lions habituating to these areas.
       Sea lion predation is not just an issue at the dams. 
     Increasingly we are observing sea lions forage in many of the 
     undammed tributaries to the lower Columbia River. Many of 
     these tributaries contain our healthiest salmon and steelhead 
     populations and have large tracts of pristine habitat. These 
     runs are critical to recovering the larger salmon and 
     steelhead Evolutionary significant units (ESU). Without 
     passage of H.R. 2083 we can do nothing to prevent sea lions 
     gaining a toehold in these areas which, as we have seen at 
     Willamette Falls and Ballard Locks, places the fish on a 
     pathway to extirpation before action can be taken.
       H.R. 2083 will have no impact on sea lion populations. 
     National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently 
     published a paper demonstrating that California sea lions are 
     at carrying capacity. Their population in the United States 
     is projected to fluctuate between 250,000-300,000 individuals 
     in the foreseeable future. Additionally, NOAA is required 
     under the MMPA to calculate the Potential Biological Removal 
     (PBR) level, or the number of animals that could be removed 
     from the population without affecting its viability. For 
     California sea lions, that number is currently 9,200. As a 
     margin of safety, the proposed legislation caps the removals 
     at no more than 10% of this number, for a total annual 
     removal not to exceed 920. This is an extremely conservative 
     number when put in context of the overall population. 
     Moreover, in the Columbia River, there are only around 300 
     sea lions exhibiting the problem behavior, and they are all 
     males. Thus, removal of these few animals will have no impact 
     on the population.
       H.R. 2083 ensures the process currently used to oversee 
     permitting and program implementation stays intact. Before 
     new permitting there will be a NEPA review, a public comment 
     period, and a taskforce process. After a permit is issued, 
     the federally appointed taskforce is required to evaluate the 
     program annually and make recommendations to NMFS to improve 
     its effectiveness.
       H.R. 2083 does not expand the limit on the number of 
     animals that may be lethally removed. Current law provides no 
     limit to the number that the National Marine Fisheries 
     Service may authorize states to remove. H.R. 2083 strengthens 
     this by placing a basin-wide cap on removal numbers that is 
     linked to best available science. This means that if sea lion 
     populations ever decline, the number of animals States and 
     Treaty Tribes can remove will also decline.
       Our agencies are committed to ensuring our iconic salmon, 
     steelhead, and sturgeon are conserved for current and future 
     generations and that we have healthy and thriving pinniped 
     populations. We would be deeply grateful for your 
     acknowledgement that the issue of pinniped predation in the 
     Columbia River must be addressed legislatively. We cannot 
     thank you enough for your support on this issue.
           Sincerely,
     Joe Stohr,
       Acting Director, Washington Department of Fish and 
     Wildlife.
     Curtis E. Melcher,
       Director, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
     Virgil Moore,
       Director, Idaho Fish and Game.
     Jaime A. Pinkham,
       Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish 
     Commission.

  Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Chairman, I want to speak to one piece. I 
keep hearing that this isn't a silver bullet. No one is claiming that 
this is a silver bullet. This is a step in the right direction to 
protect endangered salmon runs that are critical for commercial, 
recreational, and Tribal resource use. This is really iconic to the 
Pacific Northwest, and it is part of our heritage. It is something that 
we would like to pass on to our kids and our grandkids. Passing this 
bill today allows us to do that.
  Ratepayers are so committed to this. In the States of Washington and 
Oregon, ratepayers who fund the Bonneville Power Administration and the 
dam--the hydro system--spend hundreds of millions of dollars a year. If 
you get it all together, it almost cracks $1 billion annually that is 
spent in mitigation efforts to protect the species that are impacted.
  As ratepayers, we spend a lot of money to protect and support these 
runs because it is so specific and unique to our way of life. This is a 
critical thing for us. It is one of those things where you literally 
can stand on the shore of the Columbia River and you can watch sea 
lions toss salmon, and you watch them play with salmon. You can come 
across carcasses of salmon on the river with a single bite mark taken 
out.
  I walked across and found a sturgeon longer than my arm with a single 
bite mark taken out of her stomach. Basically they took the eggs--they 
took the caviar--and then let it go.
  We look at that and we think we, as ratepayers, because we spend 
hundreds of millions of dollars to protect these runs and bring them 
back into fuller health, to watch these animals not even eat a full 
meal but just play with them, it makes you sick, Mr. Chairman.
  So if you are someone who believes in protecting species and having a 
balanced ecosystem--this isn't about picking one species over the 
other. This is literally us trying to restore some balance here. It is 
one of those things where you would have to fight hard to find a reason 
not to support this.

[[Page H5703]]

  When very liberal Governors and very conservative Republican 
Governors come in and ask us to pass this legislation, it should cause 
you to stop and pause. This is one of those things that this body 
should be about, and today is a good chance to take a step forward in 
protecting these wild runs.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Chairman, I want to indicate that the proponents of the 
legislation on both sides of the aisle, I understand, are representing 
not only constituent interests, but what they see is a good piece of 
legislation.
  Let me just end by saying that similar legislation has been proposed 
in previous Congresses, but this bill would allow more killing of seals 
and sea lions than all of those before it. When this version of the 
bill was introduced in 2015, it proposed an annual taking of 92 
California sea lions. Under this legislation, H.R. 2083, this would 
increase by tenfold and would include the killing of Stellar sea lions 
and harbor seals. I am disappointed that the legislation before us 
today has gone in that direction.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Chairman, we have heard a lot of debate. This has been a good 
debate. I have been struck by the fact that every single speaker from 
the Northwest, on both sides of the aisle, has spoken in favor of this 
piece of legislation.

                              {time}  1515

  I find that very remarkable. Rarely do we have that kind of 
consensus, and yet we have that here with H.R. 2083.
  Just to conclude, I would say that this is a commonsense piece of 
legislation. Unfortunately, the Federal Government sometimes has 
conflicting mandates. We have a law, on the one hand, that protects sea 
lions, but we have the endangered status of various salmon. These two 
are in conflict, unfortunately.
  So let's take the side of the endangered species. We can do so on a 
limited and scientific basis, with the way that this bill has been 
crafted through a lot of compromise. In fact, before it even takes 
effect, there will be an environmental impact statement, which is a 
very lengthy process with lots of public comment, lots of judicial 
scrutiny, and so on.
  So I find this to be a very commonsense piece of legislation with a 
lot of compromise built in, a lot of consensus. It makes so much sense 
that I hope that there would be no opposition or almost no opposition 
when this comes up for a vote. Let's all adopt H.R. 2083, a great piece 
of legislation for our environment.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Chair, today, I voted in support of H.R. 2083, 
the Endangered Salmon and Fisheries Predation Prevention Act. This was 
a difficult decision.
  I voted for this bill because I strongly support the recovery of wild 
native fish populations in the Columbia River and its tributaries. 
There is an immediate, serious risk to native steelhead, among other 
fish, that this bill seeks to reduce.
  I, however, do not view this bill as a wise long-term strategy for 
salmon and steelhead recovery in the Columbia River Basin. While the 
detrimental impacts of sea lions need to be addressed, human-caused 
factors are the primary driver in the declining salmon and steelhead 
populations. Instead of focusing on sea lions--another protected 
species with an important role in our ecosystem--let's actually 
confront the damage that we ourselves have caused. Pitting one 
treasured species against another does nothing to address the damage 
and obstacles that humans have forced upon this vital Pacific Northwest 
ecosystem.
  This will not be easy. The impediments are many--the impacts from 
dams, habitat degradation, unprecedented climate disruption, and more. 
Regional partners have been working for years to address these issues, 
and thankfully our native fish are strikingly resilient. But we must do 
much, much more. Let's have a real conversation about the actual causes 
of salmon and steelhead decline and what we can do to meaningfully 
contribute to their recovery.
  While this bill may reduce some short-term stressors, it is not a 
solution. Salmon and steelhead--iconic species in the Pacific 
Northwest--will only recover if we come together to face the facts and 
tackle the real issues that are our legacy--and our responsibility.
  The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Barton). All time for general debate has 
expired.
  Pursuant to the rule, the bill shall be considered for amendment 
under the 5-minute rule.
  It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose 
of amendment under the 5-minute rule an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 115-79. That 
amendment in the nature of a substitute shall be considered as read.
  The text of the amendment in the nature of a substitute is as 
follows:

                               H.R. 2083

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembed,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Endangered Salmon and 
     Fisheries Predation Prevention Act''.

     SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of the Congress that--
       (1) prevention of predation by pinnipeds, recovery of 
     salmonid stocks listed under the Endangered Species Act of 
     1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and prevention of the future 
     listings of fish stocks in the Columbia River under such Act 
     are a vital priority; and
       (2) the Federal Government should continue to fund lethal 
     and nonlethal removal of pinnipeds as well as deterrence 
     measures for preventing such predation.

     SEC. 3. TAKING OF PINNIPEDS ON THE COLUMBIA RIVER AND ITS 
                   TRIBUTARIES TO PROTECT ENDANGERED AND 
                   THREATENED SPECIES OF SALMON AND OTHER 
                   NONLISTED FISH SPECIES.

       Section 120(f) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 
     (16 U.S.C. 1389(f)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(f) Temporary Marine Mammal Removal Authority on the 
     Waters of the Columbia River and Its Tributaries.--
       ``(1) Removal authority.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of this Act, the Secretary may issue a permit to an 
     eligible entity to authorize the intentional lethal taking on 
     the waters of the Columbia River and its tributaries of 
     individually identifiable pinnipeds that are part of a 
     population or stock that is not categorized under this Act as 
     depleted or strategic for the purpose of protecting--
       ``(A) species of salmon, steelhead, or eulachon that are 
     listed as endangered species or threatened species under the 
     Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); and
       ``(B) species of lamprey or sturgeon that are not listed as 
     endangered or threatened but are listed as a species of 
     concern.
       ``(2) Permit process.--
       ``(A) In general.--An eligible entity may apply to the 
     Secretary for a permit under this subsection.
       ``(B) Deadline for consideration of application.--The 
     timelines and procedures described in subsection (c) shall 
     apply to applications for permits under this subsection in 
     the same manner such timelines apply to applications under 
     subsection (b).
       ``(C) Coordination.--The Secretary shall establish 
     procedures for coordination among eligible entities, 
     including application procedures and timelines, geographic 
     and species-specific considerations, and monitoring and 
     periodic review.
       ``(D) Duration of permit.--A permit under this subsection 
     shall be effective for not more than 5 years and may be 
     renewed by the Secretary.
       ``(3) Limitations on annual takings.--The process for 
     determining limitations on annual take of pinnipeds will 
     follow the process established in subsection (c) and the 
     cumulative number of pinnipeds authorized to be taken each 
     year under all permits in effect under this subsection shall 
     not exceed 10 percent of the annual potential biological 
     removal level for pinnipeds.
       ``(4) Qualified individuals.--Intentional lethal takings 
     under this subsection shall be humane and shall be 
     implemented by agencies or qualified individuals described in 
     subsection (c)(4), or by individuals employed by the eligible 
     entities described in paragraph (6).
       ``(5) Suspension of permitting authority.--If, 5 years 
     after the date of the enactment of the Endangered Salmon and 
     Fisheries Predation Prevention Act, the Secretary, after 
     consulting with State and tribal fishery managers, determines 
     that lethal removal authority is no longer necessary to 
     protect salmonid and other fish species from pinniped 
     predation, the Secretary shall suspend the issuance of 
     permits under this subsection.
       ``(6) Eligible entity defined.--
       ``(A) In general.--
       ``(i) Definition.--In this subsection, subject to 
     subparagraph (B), the term `eligible entity' means--

       ``(I) with respect to removal in the mainstem of the 
     Columbia River and its tributaries, the State of Washington, 
     the State of Oregon, and the State of Idaho;
       ``(II) with respect to removal in the mainstem of the 
     Columbia River and its tributaries, the Nez Perce Tribe, the 
     Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the 
     Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of 
     Oregon, the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama 
     Nation, and the Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission; 
     and

       ``(ii) Delegation authority.--The Secretary may allow an 
     eligible entity described in clause (i)(II) to delegate its 
     authority under a permit under this subsection to any entity 
     described in clause (i)(II).
       ``(B) Additional eligibility.--
       ``(i) In general.--Subject to the approval of the Secretary 
     and in consultation with the Indian Tribes in subparagraph 
     (A)(i)(II)--

[[Page H5704]]

       ``(I) the State of Washington may enter into a memorandum 
     of understanding with the Cowlitz Indian Tribe for deterrence 
     and removal of sea lions on the Cowlitz River.
       ``(II) the State of Oregon may enter into a memorandum of 
     understanding with the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde 
     Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz 
     Indians of Oregon for deterrence and removal of sea lions on 
     the Willamette River.

       ``(ii) Considerations.--In determining eligibility under 
     this subparagraph, the Secretary shall consider the capacity 
     of each Indian tribe to manage wildlife to meet the 
     requirements of this Act.
       ``(7) Individual exception.--For purposes of this section, 
     any pinniped located upstream of Columbia River river mile 
     112, or in any tributary to the Columbia River that includes 
     spawning habitat of threatened or endangered salmon or 
     steelhead is deemed to be individually identifiable.
       ``(8) Significant negative impact exception.--For purposes 
     of this section, any pinniped located in the mainstem of the 
     Columbia River upstream of river mile 112, or in any 
     tributary to the Columbia River that includes spawning 
     habitat of threatened or endangered salmon or steelhead is 
     deemed to be having a significant negative impact on the 
     decline or recovery of salmonid fishery stocks described in 
     subsection (b)(1).
       ``(9) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `Indian 
     tribe' has the meaning given such term in section 4 of the 
     Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 
     U.S.C. 5304).''.

     SEC. 4. TREATY RIGHTS OF FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED INDIAN TRIBES.

       Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act 
     shall be construed to affect or modify any treaty or other 
     right of an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of the 
     Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 
     U.S.C. 5304)).

  The Acting CHAIR. No amendment to that amendment in the nature of a 
substitute shall be in order except those printed in part B of House 
Report 115-783. Each such amendment may be offered only in the order 
printed in the report, by a Member designated in the report, shall be 
considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the 
report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, 
shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand 
for division of the question.


                 Amendment No. 1 Offered by Mr. Kilmer

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 1 
printed in part B of House Report 115-783.
  Mr. KILMER. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Strike ``pinnipeds'' in each place it appears and insert 
     ``sea lions''.
       Strike ``pinniped'' in each place it appears and insert 
     ``sea lion''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 961, the gentleman 
from Washington (Mr. Kilmer) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.
  Mr. KILMER. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment to 
H.R. 2083.
  This simple amendment would narrow the scope of this bill to clarify 
our intent that the lethal take authority should be limited to sea 
lions, rather than all pinnipeds.
  This small but important distinction will help to ensure this 
authority targets only those animals that pose an imminent threat to 
our native ESA-listed salmon and steelhead stocks.
  It will also help to align our bill with the Senate version that was 
recently introduced by Senators Cantwell and Risch, hopefully ensuring 
that this bill gets across the finish line as quickly as possible.
  That is absolutely critical, because some of our most vulnerable 
stocks face an imminent risk of extinction due to nonnative sea lion 
predation. So we must act now if we are going to save these runs.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Chairman, we have no objection to this amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from Colorado is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. KILMER. Mr. Chair, I have no further speakers on this amendment.
  Mr. Chair, I thank the majority for their support of this amendment 
and for moving this important legislation forward, and I urge my 
colleagues to adopt it.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Kilmer).
  The amendment was agreed to.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Chair understands that amendment No. 2 will not 
be offered.


                 Amendment No. 3 Offered by Mr. Vargas

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 3 
printed in part B of House Report 115-783.
  Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Add at the end the following:

     SEC. _. REPORT AND EFFECTIVE DATE.

       (a) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall 
     study and report to the Congress on the potential effects of 
     the lethal taking of pinnipeds on the recovery of salmonid 
     stocks in the waters of the Columbia River and the 
     tributaries of the Columbia River.
       (b) Effective Date.--Section 3 shall take effect on the 
     date that the Secretary submits to the Congress the report 
     required under subsection (a).

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 961, the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Vargas) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


         Modification to Amendment No. 3 Offered by Mr. Vargas

  Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that my amendment 
be modified with the form I have placed at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the modification.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Add at the end the following:

     SEC. _. REPORT.

       Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall study and 
     report to the Congress on the potential effects of the lethal 
     taking of pinnipeds on the recovery of salmonid stocks in the 
     waters of the Columbia River and the tributaries of the 
     Columbia River.

  The Acting CHAIR. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman 
from California?
  There was no objection.
  The Acting CHAIR. The amendment is modified.
  The gentleman from California is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Chairman, salmon recovery is economically and 
culturally important to the country.
  Recovery efforts must be rooted in science to address the most 
prevalent threats: fish passage at dams, pesticides, fishing pressures, 
interactions with hatchery fish, and habitat loss.
  Currently, there is very little scientific evidence that sea lion 
predation has played a significant role in the overall decline of these 
salmon stocks.
  My amendment would rectify this lack of scientific evidence by 
requiring the Secretary of the Interior study and report to Congress on 
the effects of lethal takings of sea lions on the recovery of salmon 
stocks in the Columbia River system.
  If we are going to expand the lethal takings of sea lions, we should 
make sure it will help the salmon recover.
  Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of my amendment, and I reserve the balance 
of my time.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Chairman, we have no objection to this amendment, as 
modified.
  The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from Colorado is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Chairman, I urge adoption of this amendment, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment, as modified, 
offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Vargas).
  The amendment, as modified, was agreed to.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment in the nature of a 
substitute, as amended.
  The amendment was agreed to.
  The Acting CHAIR. Under the rule, the Committee rises.
  Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. 
Emmer) having assumed the chair, Mr.

[[Page H5705]]

Barton, Acting Chair of the Committee of the Whole House on the state 
of the Union, reported that that Committee, having had under 
consideration the bill (H.R. 2083) to amend the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act of 1972 to reduce predation on endangered Columbia River 
salmon and other nonlisted species, and for other purposes, and, 
pursuant to House Resolution 961, he reported the bill back to the 
House with an amendment adopted in the Committee of the Whole.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the rule, the previous question is 
ordered.
  Is a separate vote demanded on any amendment to the amendment 
reported from the Committee of the Whole?
  If not, the question is on the amendment in the nature of a 
substitute, as amended.
  The amendment was agreed to.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the engrossment and third 
reading of the bill.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was 
read the third time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on passage of the bill.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, this 15-
minute vote on passage of the bill will be followed by 5-minute votes 
on:
  The motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 5841; and,
  Agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal, if ordered.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 288, 
nays 116, not voting 23, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 294]

                               YEAS--288

     Abraham
     Aderholt
     Aguilar
     Allen
     Amodei
     Arrington
     Babin
     Bacon
     Banks (IN)
     Barletta
     Barr
     Barton
     Beatty
     Bera
     Bergman
     Beyer
     Biggs
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (GA)
     Bishop (MI)
     Bishop (UT)
     Blackburn
     Blum
     Blumenauer
     Bonamici
     Bost
     Brady (TX)
     Brat
     Brooks (AL)
     Brooks (IN)
     Brown (MD)
     Brownley (CA)
     Buck
     Bucshon
     Budd
     Burgess
     Bustos
     Byrne
     Calvert
     Carter (TX)
     Castro (TX)
     Chabot
     Cheney
     Coffman
     Cole
     Collins (GA)
     Collins (NY)
     Comstock
     Conaway
     Cook
     Cooper
     Costa
     Costello (PA)
     Courtney
     Cramer
     Crawford
     Cuellar
     Culberson
     Curbelo (FL)
     Davis (CA)
     Davis, Rodney
     DeFazio
     DelBene
     Denham
     DeSantis
     DesJarlais
     Diaz-Balart
     Dingell
     Duffy
     Duncan (SC)
     Duncan (TN)
     Dunn
     Emmer
     Eshoo
     Estes (KS)
     Esty (CT)
     Faso
     Ferguson
     Fleischmann
     Flores
     Fortenberry
     Foxx
     Frelinghuysen
     Gaetz
     Gallagher
     Garamendi
     Garrett
     Gianforte
     Gibbs
     Gohmert
     Gonzalez (TX)
     Goodlatte
     Gosar
     Gottheimer
     Granger
     Graves (GA)
     Graves (LA)
     Graves (MO)
     Green, Gene
     Griffith
     Grothman
     Guthrie
     Hanabusa
     Handel
     Harper
     Harris
     Hartzler
     Heck
     Hensarling
     Herrera Beutler
     Hice, Jody B.
     Higgins (LA)
     Hill
     Himes
     Holding
     Hollingsworth
     Hudson
     Huffman
     Huizenga
     Hultgren
     Hunter
     Hurd
     Issa
     Jayapal
     Jenkins (KS)
     Jenkins (WV)
     Johnson (LA)
     Johnson (OH)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Jones
     Jordan
     Joyce (OH)
     Katko
     Kelly (MS)
     Kelly (PA)
     Kildee
     Kilmer
     Kind
     King (IA)
     King (NY)
     Kinzinger
     Knight
     Kuster (NH)
     Kustoff (TN)
     Labrador
     LaHood
     LaMalfa
     Lamb
     Lamborn
     Lance
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Latta
     Lesko
     Levin
     Lewis (MN)
     Lipinski
     LoBiondo
     Loebsack
     Long
     Loudermilk
     Love
     Lucas
     Luetkemeyer
     Lujan Grisham, M.
     Lujan, Ben Ray
     MacArthur
     Marchant
     Marino
     Marshall
     Massie
     Mast
     Matsui
     McCarthy
     McCaul
     McClintock
     McCollum
     McHenry
     McKinley
     McMorris Rodgers
     Meadows
     Meng
     Messer
     Mitchell
     Moolenaar
     Mooney (WV)
     Moulton
     Mullin
     Murphy (FL)
     Newhouse
     Noem
     Nolan
     Norman
     Nunes
     O'Halleran
     O'Rourke
     Olson
     Palazzo
     Palmer
     Paulsen
     Pearce
     Perlmutter
     Perry
     Peters
     Peterson
     Pittenger
     Poe (TX)
     Poliquin
     Posey
     Ratcliffe
     Reed
     Reichert
     Renacci
     Rice (NY)
     Rice (SC)
     Roby
     Roe (TN)
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rohrabacher
     Rokita
     Rooney, Francis
     Rooney, Thomas J.
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Roskam
     Ross
     Rothfus
     Rouzer
     Royce (CA)
     Ruiz
     Ruppersberger
     Russell
     Rutherford
     Sanchez
     Scalise
     Schrader
     Schweikert
     Scott, Austin
     Scott, David
     Sensenbrenner
     Sessions
     Sherman
     Shimkus
     Shuster
     Simpson
     Sinema
     Smith (MO)
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (TX)
     Smith (WA)
     Smucker
     Stefanik
     Stewart
     Stivers
     Suozzi
     Taylor
     Tenney
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (PA)
     Thornberry
     Tipton
     Trott
     Turner
     Upton
     Valadao
     Veasey
     Vela
     Wagner
     Walberg
     Walden
     Walker
     Walorski
     Walters, Mimi
     Weber (TX)
     Webster (FL)
     Wenstrup
     Westerman
     Williams
     Wilson (FL)
     Wittman
     Womack
     Woodall
     Yoder
     Yoho
     Young (AK)
     Young (IA)
     Zeldin

                               NAYS--116

     Adams
     Amash
     Barragan
     Bass
     Blunt Rochester
     Boyle, Brendan F.
     Brady (PA)
     Buchanan
     Butterfield
     Capuano
     Carbajal
     Cardenas
     Carson (IN)
     Cartwright
     Castor (FL)
     Chu, Judy
     Cicilline
     Clark (MA)
     Clay
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Cohen
     Connolly
     Correa
     Crist
     Cummings
     Davidson
     Davis, Danny
     Delaney
     DeLauro
     Demings
     DeSaulnier
     Deutch
     Doggett
     Doyle, Michael F.
     Espaillat
     Evans
     Fitzpatrick
     Foster
     Frankel (FL)
     Fudge
     Gabbard
     Gallego
     Gomez
     Green, Al
     Grijalva
     Hastings
     Higgins (NY)
     Hoyer
     Jackson Lee
     Jeffries
     Johnson (GA)
     Kaptur
     Keating
     Kelly (IL)
     Kennedy
     Khanna
     Kihuen
     Krishnamoorthi
     Langevin
     Lawrence
     Lawson (FL)
     Lee
     Lewis (GA)
     Lieu, Ted
     Lofgren
     Lowenthal
     Lowey
     Lynch
     Maloney, Sean
     McEachin
     McGovern
     McNerney
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal
     Norcross
     Pallone
     Panetta
     Pascrell
     Payne
     Pelosi
     Pingree
     Pocan
     Price (NC)
     Quigley
     Raskin
     Richmond
     Rosen
     Roybal-Allard
     Ryan (OH)
     Sanford
     Sarbanes
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schneider
     Scott (VA)
     Serrano
     Sires
     Soto
     Speier
     Swalwell (CA)
     Takano
     Titus
     Tonko
     Torres
     Tsongas
     Vargas
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Walz
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters, Maxine
     Watson Coleman
     Welch
     Yarmuth

                             NOT VOTING--23

     Black
     Carter (GA)
     Clarke (NY)
     Comer
     Crowley
     Curtis
     DeGette
     Donovan
     Ellison
     Engel
     Gowdy
     Gutierrez
     Johnson, Sam
     Maloney, Carolyn B.
     McSally
     Meeks
     Moore
     Polis
     Rush
     Sewell (AL)
     Shea-Porter
     Thompson (MS)
     Wilson (SC)

                              {time}  1552

  Messrs. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois, NORCROSS, CUMMINGS, AL GREEN of 
Texas, COHEN, Ms. JACKSON LEE, and Mr. DELANEY changed their vote from 
``yea'' to ``nay.''
  Ms. SANCHEZ, Messrs. LARSON of Connecticut, VELA, BEYER, and BERA 
changed their vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''
  So the bill was passed.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to allow 
for the taking of pinnipeds on the Columbia River and its tributaries 
to protect endangered and threatened species of salmon and other 
nonlisted fish species.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________