Rep. Gosar Spars with US Fish and Wildlife Director over Fish Stocking Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after the House Committee on Natural Resources held an oversight hearing titled The Status of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Responses to Committee Subpoenas and the Continued Lack of Transparency about Its Implementation and Enforcement of American Wildlife Laws, and Oversight of the Department of the Interior’s Solicitor’s Office:

“The Fish and Wildlife Service has repeatedly made misguided policy decisions that are not only detrimental to the economic stability of many communities throughout the country, but have also violated the laws on the books that guide how those decisions must be carried out. Additionally, their complete and total lack of cooperation with Congressional inquiries has been disgraceful. The American people have every right to have access to information from USFWS and Congress is their medium to obtain that information.

“In my district, the Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery is in one of those communities negatively affected because the USFWS decided to close down a vital rainbow trout stocking program. This program supports 1,700 jobs and $75 million in economic output for Mohave County. In order to prevent this short sighted decision, I introduced H.R. 5026, the Fish Hatchery Protection Act and I savored the opportunity to personally question USFWS Director Dan Ashe. I am pleased that I was able to get the Director on the record stating that once repairs are made to the water delivery system at the Hatchery, the trout stocking program will resume.”

Background:

The video of Rep. Gosar’s first round of questions from today’s hearing can be viewed HERE.

The video of Rep. Gosar’s second round of questions from today’s hearing and the commitment secured from Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe to reinstate the rainbow trout stocking program at Willow Beach can be viewed HERE.

Rep. Gosar’s letter to the USFWS in regards to the terminated rainbow trout fish stocking program at the Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery can be found HERE.

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