Jaime Herrera Beutler

I have never wanted to be lumped in with California when it comes to dealing with any major concerns.

I am very concerned, living on the West Coast, because it said you are going to have the tiger team in Maryland.

It is a free market tool that allows someone in their parents' basement, as was quoted over here, to compete, because of their idea and their innovation, with a well-established company.

We have to pass it to see what is in it.

Unfortunately, because of the Commission's actions, it seems to have been rendered moot.

The Internet conduct standard is so vague that nobody knows exactly what it will proscribe and what it will permit.

The reason I believe this country is where it is, is because of the free market opportunity. It levels the playing field, right?

I agree with you. But what is lost in that discussion often is that the consumer is informed.

Keep those of us in the Northwest in your conversations and relationship as you move forward.

Because I was thrilled when I heard about this.

I wanted to bring specifically for the record and to your attention, because I wasn't familiar with your overall budget, you are requesting flat funding. Correct?

What I am most interested in...is right now the agencies do have the authority to lethally remove some of these animals and we do not feel like it is happening quickly enough.

I introduced the Endangered Salmon and Fisheries Predation Prevention Act. And it allows for an increased take, lethal removal of some of these animals.

We used to get amazing salmon runs...Our efforts, our recovery efforts are working.

But we need it to be your priority as well, I guess.

I would expect you to ask for an increase if that is the biggest issue, but instead you are asking for a decrease.

So that is not level funding, that is a reduction.

NOAA requests a decrease of $3 million in the salmon management activities account and those reductions target Mitchell Act hatcheries.

Mitchell Act funding for these hatcheries is key and so we want to make sure what we are hearing on the ground corroborates with what your NOAA staff are seeing and hearing.

I am concerned about the backlog. I think I have seen over 100 are due and we do not have them.

I just would like to make sure that it is addressed and that the law is followed in conjunction with the Congress and the President's signature.

I was really upset to see NOAA requested $3 million less to the Salmon Management Activities account and those reductions target Mitchell Act hatcheries.

In Southwest Washington, my district, it goes from the Pacific coast, from the mouth of the Columbia up to the tip of Willapa Bay, and the salmon hatcheries on the Columbia River, which are Mitchell Act funded, support recreational and…

When you talk about main issues, why you get on a Committee like this, that is a big one for us.

I would assume that is a 24 hour or a 2 day--I mean, the way we--from some of our previous briefings that we have had with cyber security division, that is not a two month window, because if it is we are not doing something right.