they are supposed to be protecting and at the very least adhering to the law, but in many cases were selling folks out.

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…

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

There is nothing more frustrating than knowing a 17 or 16 year old girl who has been prostituted is the one that faces the criminal penalty and a John walks free.

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

it is hard to understand their priorities here.

Those are sea lions and seals. That is the mouth of the Columbia River on February 15th.

It feels like we need to bring some common sense to how we look at an amazing, clean, carbonless source of energy.

The first is the water bill that we passed last year directs 10 percent of the total funding for harbor maintenance activities to be used at emerging harbors.

I am so sorry to interrupt. I just want to make sure I am following.

Well, I mean I see it across, whether it is municipalities, whether it is developers, whether it is people just trying to rebuild after a flood.

We very much appreciate that second consideration.

I specifically asked to be on this Subcommittee in large part because of the important role you all play in the Pacific Northwest.

I just wanted some background or some thoughts on why.

I wanted to hear if you had a plan for hydropower as you move forward.

I had a sense of Congress Resolution, I think, last year that I might be working on again this year.

So I wonder if that means that part of the goal is just to get folks--and my time is up--to get them out of group markets all together.

In my view, this has failed. The SHOP has failed.

I think some of the challenges that we are seeing in Washington State may allude to a bigger problem.

What do you think if the association plans are on their way out and even for next year we do not really have much choice for the small businesses, what do you think is going to start to happen?

I understand there is an issue pending before the FCC concerning the selection of the next Local Number Portability Administrator.

But I would like to identify with you, with any of the members who are here, other areas where we can carve out some protection.

I do know last year we were successful in getting in the CGIS budget I believe about $60 million for Pacific salmon recovery funds which was a step forward considering I think it was completely zeroed out.

I wanted to mention, too, on the--you mentioned resources, Pacific salmon and salmon runs and the importance not just to Indian Country but to the communities as a whole.

I appreciate the opportunity to advocate on behalf of revitalizing the economy of fisheries in the Pacific or the REFI Act.