Maria Cantwell: “I rise as a cosponsor of the Nelson- Martinez amendment, which would remove from the energy bill language that threatens…”

“I rise as a cosponsor of the Nelson- Martinez amendment, which would remove from the energy bill language that threatens decades-old Congressional and Executive Branch protections of sensitive coastal areas. Protecting our Nation's fragile coasts is vitally important to my State's economy. On the west coast of Washington, the livelihoods of many rural communities depend on fishing, tourism, and shellfish farming. These multi-million dollar industries depend on clean water and pristine coastlines. In addition, the U.S. has entered into numerous treaties with coastal Indian tribes. Many of these treaties guarantee tribal fishing and shellfishing harvesting rights. We cannot set in motion a process that could damage these tribes' ways of life, or allow any potential abrogation of our Nation's trust responsibilities. Over the last several years, Washington State has been a leader in protecting sensitive marine areas. We worked closely with the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration to establish the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, which encompasses most of the waters off of the northwest coast of Washington. The sanctuary is home to hundreds of species including marine mammals. These mammals include the majestic Orca whale, whose 20 percent population decline over the past decade triggered a depleted listing under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and may lead to a threatened listing under the Endangered Species Act.…”