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<DIV> </DIV> <FONT class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman"
color=#0011cc size=7><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 26px"><B>NEWS</B></SPAN></FONT>
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<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><FONT class=Apple-style-span
face="Times New Roman" color=#0011cc size=6><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 24px"><B>Congressman George Miller, California's
7</B></SPAN></FONT><FONT class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman"
color=#0011cc size=5><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 16px"><B>th</B></SPAN></FONT><FONT class=Apple-style-span
face="Times New Roman" color=#0011cc size=6><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 24px"><B> District</B></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
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style="MIN-HEIGHT: 18px; MARGIN: 0px 0px 8px; FONT: 16px Times New Roman; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(128,128,128); TEXT-ALIGN: center"
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<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><FONT class=Apple-style-span
face="Times New Roman"><B>Friday, July 07, 2006</B></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><FONT class=Apple-style-span
face="Times New Roman"><B>Andrea Purse, 202-225-7387</B></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><FONT class=Apple-style-span
face="Times New Roman" size=6><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 21px"><B></B></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><FONT class=Apple-style-span
face="Times New Roman" size=6><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 21px"><B>COMMERCE DEPARTMENT YIELDS TO PRESSURE FROM WEST
COAST DEMOCRATS TO AID SALMON FISHERMEN</B></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><FONT class=Apple-style-span
face="Times New Roman" size=6><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 18px"><B></B></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px">
</SPAN></FONT></P>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px">WASHINGTON, DC -
After months of intense pressure from West Coast Democrats, the U.S. Commerce
Department announced on Thursday that it has taken the first steps in declaring
a fishery resource disaster for the commercial salmon fishermen in California
and Oregon.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 16px"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px">As a result of these
first steps, fishermen in affected areas will now be able to apply for federal
small-business low-interest loans to help them after an early end to the fishing
season because of low salmon populations.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 16px"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 16px"><FONT class=Apple-style-span
face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 16px">"This is a step in the right direction, but much more
needs to be done to help these fishermen, whose families and businesses depend
on the health of the salmon populations each year," said </SPAN></FONT><FONT
class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px"><B>Representative George
Miller</B></SPAN></FONT><FONT class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px"> (D-CA). "I
appreciate the efforts of </SPAN></FONT><FONT class=Apple-style-span
face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 16px"><B>Senators Feinstein </B></SPAN></FONT><FONT
class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px">and</SPAN></FONT><FONT
class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px"><B> Boxer</B></SPAN></FONT><FONT
class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px"> and </SPAN></FONT><FONT
class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px"><B>Congressman Mike
Thompson</B></SPAN></FONT><FONT class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px"> and the willingness
of </SPAN></FONT><FONT class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px"><B>Secretary
Gutierrez</B></SPAN></FONT><FONT class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px"> to hear our
concerns." </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 16px"><FONT class=Apple-style-span
face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 16px">"Now, we need to make sure that we take the next steps
to help the industry recover-and that means direct financial aid, and it means
an increased commitment from the Bush administration to fix the problems of the
Klamath River."</SPAN></FONT></P>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 16px">Miller</SPAN></FONT><FONT class=Apple-style-span
face="Times New Roman"> and other West Coast Democrats, led by Thomspon, vowed
to block regular order in the House of Representatives last week because the
House would not allow debate or a vote on an amendment proposed by Thompson to
provide $81 million in immediate disaster relief to the salmon fishermen and
women of California and Oregon and the businesses and communities that depend on
them.</FONT></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 16px"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px">Republican leaders
in the house eventually allowed a modified version of Thompson's amendment to be
considered and it was unanimously approved by the House. The amendment
would give $2 million in aid to the fishermen from the Commerce Department
Managerial Budget. Miller and Thompson are working with the California and
Oregon Senators and the Department of Commerce to increase that amount.
</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman"
color=#0016ff size=4><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 16px"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px"><B>Background on
2006 Salmon Fisheries Crisis</B></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><FONT class=Apple-style-span
face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 16px"><B></B></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px">The Department of
Commerce announcement on July 6 comes after a lengthy history of difficulties
with the salmon population along the Kalmath River. Several Democratic members
co-authored legislation (H.R.5213) this year to address both the short- and
long-term problems plaguing the Klamath fishery. Miller, Thompson, and others
have also repeatedly asked the Department of Commerce to declare a disaster so
that Congress can provide immediate assistance to the affected fishermen and
women and communities.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT class=Apple-style-span face=Arial size=4><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px">The Klamath River
runs from Oregon through Northern California, and has been badly mismanaged by
the Bush administration for political gain. In 2002, on behalf of
the farm industry, the Bush Administration directed water to be diverted
from the river, which resulted in a massive fish kill. This year's drastically
reduced number of returning salmon is directly attributable to the 2002 fish
kill and a parasitic infection resulting from poor federal management of the
river.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 16px"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px">Here's how the
</SPAN></FONT><A
href="http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-op-hamburger25jun25,1,3293272.story?ctrack=1&cset=true"><FONT
class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px">LA Times</SPAN></FONT></A><FONT
class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px"> wrote about the Administration's
actions.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 16px"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px">"All administrations
are political, of course. But never before has the White House inserted
electoral priorities into Cabinet agencies with such regularity and
deliberation. Before the 2002 midterm elections, for instance, Rove or Mehlman
visited with the managers of many federal agencies to share polling information
and discuss how policy decisions might affect key races.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 16px"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px">"In 2002, Rove told
Interior Department officials of the importance of helping farmers in Oregon
whose political support was crucial to Gordon Smith, a vulnerable Republican
senator. Within months, perhaps because of Rove's exhortations, the agency did
just that, supporting the diversion of water from the environmentally important
Klamath River for the sake of irrigating farmland. Thousands of salmon
eventually died in the newly shallow waters. But the senator secured his
reelection."</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT class=Apple-style-span face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 16px"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><FONT class=Apple-style-span
face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 16px">###</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT class=Apple-style-span face=Arial size=4><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT class=Apple-style-span face=Arial size=4><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT class=Apple-style-span face=Arial size=4><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px"><B>Andrea
Purse</B></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT class=Apple-style-span face=Arial size=4><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px">Press
Secretary</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT class=Apple-style-span face=Arial size=4><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px">Office of Representative George
Miller</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT class=Apple-style-span face=Arial size=4><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px">2205 Rayburn
HOB</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT class=Apple-style-span face=Arial size=4><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px">202-225-7387
(direct)</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT class=Apple-style-span face=Arial size=4><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px">202-680-8816 (cell)</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px"><A href="mailto:andrea.purse@mail.house.gov"><FONT
class=Apple-style-span face=Arial size=4><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px">andrea.purse@mail.house.gov</SPAN></FONT></A></DIV>
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