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Wyden blocks major fisheries legislation
Wants Senate to help salmon fishermen
survive
June
6, 2006
Washington, DC – Concerned
that Oregon salmon fishermen and their communities are unnecessarily
suffering under a steeply curtailed salmon fishery, U.S. Senator
Ron Wyden today blocked (“held”) the major piece of
fisheries management legislation moving through the Congress until
the Senate considers steps to help fishermen in Oregon survive
this disastrous fishing season.
“We’ve known for months
that this was going to be a bad season for our salmon fishermen,
but the Secretary of Commerce has done nothing, despite numerous
pleas for help from the affected communities,” Wyden said.
“We need to act now to help address the immediate financial
needs of our fishermen and the coastal fishing communities that
depend on salmon for their livelihoods. Before this bill goes
forward, we need to know that Oregon’s fishing communities
are not being forgotten.”
Wyden held two town hall meetings
on the Oregon coast last Saturday where he heard from fishermen
concerned about the salmon season; he promised to seek emergency
assistance when he returned to Washington, D.C. this week.
Wyden has previously cosponsored
Senate bills with U.S. Senators Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Barbara
Boxer (D-CA) to provide emergency disaster assistance for Oregon
and California fishermen impacted by restrictions placed on salmon
fishing. Under their legislation, the funding would be provided
to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission to be distributed
to coastal communities that have been declared to be in a state
of emergency as a result of the limited salmon fishing season.
The assistance would be available tax-free to fishermen, fish
processors and businesses (such as cold storage facilities, ice
houses, and docks) supporting the fishing industry. Cities or
town that experiences a loss in fish landing fees or revenue related
to the fishing industry would also be eligible.
As a matter of policy, Wyden publicly
announces any “holds” or formal objection he lodges
with regard to legislation or nominees. The full text of Wyden’s
statement today follows:
Statement for the Record
June 6, 2006
M. President, up and down the coast
of Oregon, fishermen, their families and communities are suffering
from the actions of the Secretary of Commerce in curtailing the
Klamath salmon fishery without offering the assistance they need
to cope with this disaster. Months ago the Pacific Fishery Management
Council recommended to the Secretary of Commerce that this salmon
fishery be drastically curtailed. The Secretary responded to the
Council’s recommendation by slashing the quotas and limiting
the number of days and areas that could be fished. But, despite
numerous pleas for help from the affected communities, the Secretary
has done nothing for months and months to help out the fishers
whose livelihood depends on the Klamath salmon stocks.
The Secretary’s continued
inaction is not acceptable, and so I am objecting to any Unanimous
Consent request for the Senate to proceed to or adopt S. 2012,
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization
Act of 2005 until the Senate can consider legislative steps that
will help fishermen in Oregon and California survive this disastrous
fishing season. I make this objection consistent with my policy
of always announcing “holds” I may place on legislation
or nominations.
The State of Oregon is seeking a
Presidential emergency declaration for those affected by this
federal action, and I intend to work closely with the State and
my colleagues here in the U.S. Senate to make sure Oregon’s
fishing communities are not forgotten and that they receive the
aid they will require to make it through this year.
I ask unanimous consent that my
statement be printed in the record.
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