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Washington, DC— Today Congressman David Wu again spoke on the floor of the US House of Representatives to express his strong opposition to the plans to develop an Indian gambling casino in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Congressman Wu’s efforts follow the announcement of the Tribal-State Compact signed by Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation on April 6,2005.
Since that time, Congressman Wu has expressed his concerns in a letter to Interior Secretary Gale Norton and has now addressed the US House of Representatives on two occaisions. Congressman Wu firmly believes that further development of the Gorge, as proposed in the Compact, will pressure Cascade Locks to expand into the surrounding National Scenic Area and exacerbate existing air pollution problems.
Currently, the Tribal-State Compact is being considered by the US Department of the Interior.
The text of Congressman Wu's remarks follows below:
"Mr. Chairman, I am deeply concerned about a possible Indian gambling casino in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. I've had these concerns for at least seven years and I am extremely disappointed in recent developments. The Governor of Oregon signed a Compact with this tribe on April 6th and it was presented to the Department of Interior on April 8th.
"I have been consistent in my position and have privately informed the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation and Governor Kulongoski and his predecessor, Governor Kitzhaber, throughout my Congressional career that I specifically do not support a casino in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and that generally, I oppose off-reservation gaming casinos.
"I have persisted in suggesting to the Warm Springs Tribe that they consider a new location on reservation land along a highly traveled route, namely Highway 26, between Portland, Oregon and Bend, Oregon.
"This particular proposal came to the federal government on April 8th and it is necessary that I weigh in now.
"I am asking Secretary Norton to disapprove the Tribal-State Compact because this casino will hurt the Columbia River Gorge, other tribes, and all Oregonians. I understand that the Secretary intends to approve the Compact, but that only starts the process. I am here to tell the Secretary and the tribe that Congress will not be silent while the crown jewel of Oregon's national heritage gets trashed.
"I have been a supporter of preserving the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic area and I will continue to do so. A casino of this magnitude will bring over three million non-Gorge related visitors per year, a million cars per year to the area and exacerbate traffic, pollution, and risks to endangered species in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
"I am pro-Gorge and I am troubled that there is a possibility of disturbing the crown jewel of Oregon's natural heritage. I will actively oppose this proposal and do everything I can to protect the Gorge.
"State and Federal agencies have already determined that air quality in the Columbia River Gorge is significantly degraded and that visibility is impaired 95% of the time within this National Scenic Area. Also, according to the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station, this area suffers acid rain and fog as severe as what falls in industrial cities such as Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, and New York.
"Oregon, Nevada, Louisiana, Rhode Island, and South Dakota: these states derive state taxes from casinos, slot machines and lotteries for more than 10% of their overall state revenues. Oregon must not become further dependent on gambling. In all the states I listed, budgetary problems persist and gambling doesn't solve their problems (New York Times). We should not sacrifice our national treasures, our communities, or our souls upon the altar of Indian casino gambling."
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