July 16, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Peter Kovar (202-225-9400)

Congressman Barney Frank applauded the vote in the House of Representatives tonight to approve the legislation (H.R. 415) he introduced to include the Taunton River within the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers system. The bill was approved on a 242 – 175 vote, largely along party lines, with 231 Democrats joined by 11 Republicans in voting for the bill; all the opposing votes were Republican.

“I am pleased that my colleagues realize the importance of providing environmental protection for the people of Greater Fall River,” Frank said. “This legislation will provide important safeguards for the Taunton River’s natural and recreational assets, while allowing appropriate development to continue. I will be working with our Massachusetts Senators to push for enactment of the bill this year.”

Prior to the vote on final passage of the bill, the House defeated two Republican amendments – again, largely on party lines – the first of which would have removed the 9-mile section of the river North of the Braga Bridge from the bill (essentially removing Fall River from the bill), and the second which would have allowed virtually any kind of energy, industrial and economic development along the river (and also sent the bill back to committee). Frank and Congressman Jim McGovern, the lead cosponsor of the bill, angrily denounced the effort to strike Fall River from the bill, pointing out that the proposal to remove the city suggested that working people living in urban areas are somehow not entitled to environmental protection.

The bill, also sponsored by Senators Kennedy and Kerry, has been approved by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, but has not yet been taken up by the full Senate.

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