Political Quotes

“six months ago, I came to the floor of the United States Senate to announce my reluctant support for removing one of two dams on the Elwha River on the Olympic Peninsula. Today, after spending countless hours working with interested Washington State residents, I am introducing legislation to accomplish this difficult and costly endeavor provided certain conditions are met. As I mentioned in my statement last fall, I have never been enthusiastic about the idea of dam removal on the Elwha River as a means to enhance declining salmon runs on the river. For many years, national environmental groups, the Clinton Administration, much of the Northwest media, and many Northwest elected officials have pushed for removal of both dams from the Elwha River. In 1992, I supported legislation to begin the process of having the government acquire both of these dams with an eye toward removing them someday. While I have always been enthusiastic about the federal government buying these two dams from a local paper company, I continue to be skeptical toward claims that salmon runs will see a significant benefit through dam removal on the Elwha River. Anyone who believes otherwise needs to ask him why salmon runs on nearby rivers on the Olympic Peninsula with no dams are doing just as poorly. I am quite certain, however, that there are clear costs to dam removal. The taxpayers must pay at least $65 million to remove just one dam on the Elwha River.”