[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 108 (Wednesday, June 27, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H5753]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     NATIONAL ORCA PROTECTION MONTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Heck) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HECK. Mr. Speaker, 2 weeks ago we reached another troublesome 
milestone for Puget Sound's magnificent, but endangered, orca 
population.
  We lost yet another southern resident orca, this time a 23-year-old 
male known as L-92. This is the third death just in the past year, and 
the sixth in the past 2 years.
  There are now just 75 southern resident orcas left, the lowest number 
in 34 years. In fact, that is 13 fewer whales than when the population 
was initially listed in 2005 under the Endangered Species Act.
  I am sad about this loss and frustrated about this loss. Indeed, I am 
beyond frustrated. I am beyond frustrated because we know what needs to 
be done to save this iconic species in the Pacific Northwest. But, 
quite frankly, the Federal Government isn't living up to its 
partnership responsibility.
  Back home in Washington State, the State government and local 
partners are stepping up. Governor Inslee earlier this year created the 
Southern Resident Orca Task Force, and he charged two terrific public 
servants, my friends, Stephanie Solien and Les Purce, with leading it. 
But these partners can't do it alone; nor should they.
  We all have to fully invest in the Puget Sound in orca recovery 
programs. Mr. Speaker, I remind you Puget Sound is the largest estuary 
in the United States of America.
  The good news is we know where our efforts need to go. Eighty percent 
of the southern resident orcas' diet is Chinook salmon, and these 
salmon populations are in just as much danger of extinction as our 
orcas. Most of those salmon are gone. They are being eaten by sea lions 
and seals; and where they swim in Puget Sound it is simply too 
polluted.
  The pollution killing them is from storm water runoff--toxic metals, 
chemicals, and oils. It kills literally in a matter of hours, and we 
have the film to prove it. Storm water runoff remains the largest 
source of pollution in Puget Sound, and we cannot save our beloved 
orcas and our salmon if we do not stop that. Period.
  So we will fight for funding to tackle these problems. But I also 
believe we have to raise awareness. That is why last week I introduced 
H. Res. 959, which would designate June 2018 as National Orca 
Protection Month. In Washington State, we gather every June to 
celebrate our southern resident orcas. We join Native American Tribes 
who have always recognized and honored the spiritual and cultural 
significance of that which they call the Blackfish.
  But as the orca population has declined, these celebrations have 
turned into calls for action. National Orca Protection Month serves as 
a reminder of work that requires a year-round focus. It is vital that 
the Federal Government play its vital partnership role.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I ask Members to please support this resolution to 
designate National Orca Protection Month. Let's give our Federal 
agencies the resources they need to prevent the extinction of this 
beautiful and magnificent species and ensure that orcas survive for 
generations yet to come.

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