Today you will meet some of my real heroes, Sam Kitzenberg, who in the truest sense represents this area and Chuck Lawson, who has dedicated his life to making this fish hatchery happen. These are the kind of constituents its fun to help because their heart is in this project.
They've convinced me that a fish hatchery at Fort Peck Lake is the very best kind of economic development for this area. Senator Burns and I are among their strongest supporters - along with the state's Walleyes Unlimited chapters - and I know you will join us in this effort after you've heard how important this project is to all of Montana, but especially the folks in Northeastern and Central Montana. This fish hatchery will serve as an example of the kinds of successes that happen when we all work together, federal, state and local government and private citizens.
The Missouri River and Fort Peck Lake provide a great source for a cool- and warm-water fish hatchery.
With the growing pressure at Fort Peck and throughout the state for quality fishing, this hatchery is vital to the economy of the state, the sustainability of our fish populations and the future of Montana's outstanding fishing experience.
Although Fort Peck was authorized as a multi-purpose project to include other activities to promote economic growth, including recreation, those projects never emerged. Building this fish hatchery will help fulfill the initial vision for this project.
This fish hatchery will also provide a state-of-the-art facility for the production of the endangered pallid sturgeon as well as other state and federal species of concern.
I want to thank everyone who has come to Glasgow to testify and to support this effort today and all of those who have worked so hard to make this vision a reality. As the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, the Committee with jurisdiction over the programs and projects of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, I intend to include this bill in the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 that will be considered by our Committee this spring.
Thursday, I signed on as a cosponsor to S. 2027, the Fort Peck Fish Hatchery Authorization bill. I know that you will hear today that 10 million isn't enough to build the hatchery we need and we will be making revisions after today's hearing. We are waiting for final estimates from the Army Corps of Engineers to insert the language in WRDA.