Haley Stevens: “I regret deeply that last concurrent resolution, and at some time in the future I will explain it. I am awaiting some…”

“I regret deeply that last concurrent resolution, and at some time in the future I will explain it. I am awaiting some other papers. For the time being, let me say this. I have stood on the Senate floor several times talking about the Steller sea lion problem. I personally thank Mr. John Podesta, the President's assistant, for talking to me for so long and working with our staff and myself for so long, into the early hours this morning and through the day, to bring about a resolution of the problem I have been discussing. I cannot say we won this argument, but I can say we have reached a conclusion that will allow a substantial portion, approximately 90 percent, of the fishermen affected by this issue to return to fishing next January. These are people who live along a stretch of coastline and on islands, as I said, that are the same distance as from this city to the end of the Florida chain. They are people who live in very harsh circumstances and have one basic source of income, and that is fishing. We have been able now to agree on a process by which the fishing season will commence on January 20. Incidentally, it has nothing to do with the Inauguration; it just happens to be the first day of fishing season. We are delighted we have found a way to resolve the conflict.…”