Political Quotes

“Yesterday the managers accepted my amendment No. 870. The amendment will continue funding for an ongoing shared-cost research program for hydropower turbine design--commonly referred to as the ``fish-friendly hydropower program.'' In the Snake and Columbia Rivers, dams and turbines generate energy that fuel the Northwest economy. But while these facilities are used by this Nation for a tremendous good they also are, in part, responsible for the death and injury of critically endangered salmon. Some young salmon on their way to the ocean pass through the slowly moving turbine blades. The turbulence caused by the blades can and does injure some of these fish. This Nation has spent well over a billion dollars to save salmon as a result of the Endangered Species Act. Stocks of salmon continue to decline causing some to suggest removing the dams altogether. In light of this it seems amazing that we are in the process of removing funding from a promising technology that will save salmon and improve the efficiency of this renewable energy resource. Phase I of the project--the conceptual/engineering designs--has been completed. Phase II needs to be funded for us to realize the benefits of the money already spent, and to provide the Nation with modern, environmentally sound technology. We simply can no longer afford to use 50-year-old hydropower technology in a 21st century energy environment.”