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<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>Bush Withholds Salmon Disaster Money As He Pushes For
Corporate Bailouts! </span></font></b></span><b><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>by Dan Bacher </span></font></b></span><b><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>While George W. Bush wants taxpayers to give Treasury Secretary
Henry Paulson a $700 billion blank check to bail out Wall Street for its
reckless speculation and greed, the administration announced last week that it
would release only $100 million of the $170 million appropriated to salmon
fishermen and businesses impacted by this year's salmon fishing closure off the
California and Oregon coasts and in Central Valley rivers. </span></font></b></span><b><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>Representatives Peter DeFazio (OR-04) and Mike Thompson
(CA-01), along with 10 other members of Congress, wrote to President Bush on September
19 urging him to distribute the full $170 million in disaster aid to fishermen
and businesses suffering from the closure of the salmon fishing season on the
West Coast caused by the collapse of the Sacramento River fall run chinook
salmon population. </span></font></b></span><b><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>"Playing games with the livelihood of fishers across the
Pacific Northwest is yet another sign that the Bush Administration has no
commitment to protect our valuable river systems, and no interest in helping
the fishing communities and economies that rely on them," the letter
stated. "It is also completely unacceptable. We insist that you comply
with congressional intent and immediately release the full $170 million in
federal disaster aid for <st1:place w:st="on">Pacific Northwest</st1:place>
fishers." </span></font></b></span><b><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>The other Representatives who signed the letter were Baird,
Blumenauer, Capps, Eshoo, Farr, Hooley, Matsui, Woolsey, Wu and George
Miller. </span></font></b></span><b><font size=2><span style='font-size:
10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>“The Bush Administration has once again put politics
ahead of people," said <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">North</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Coast</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> Congressman Mike
Thompson (D-CA). "Because of the Administration’s disastrous
policies, Pacific coast fishing families have been devastated. Congress
appropriated $170 million in federal disaster relief, but this latest proposal
by the Bush Administration to withhold a large portion of these funds shows no
regard for hardworking fishing families nor their livelihood." </span></font></b></span><b><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>“I am absolutely astounded that the Administration is
not distributing the full $170 million Congress allocated in the Farm Bill to
deal with the salmon disaster," DeFazio said. "Instead, they are
trying to steal $70 million from salmon fishermen and give it to an incompetent
defense contractor. The fishing community of <st1:State w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State>
is already suffering because of the flawed Bush policies in the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Sacramento</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">River basin</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. They should not have to
suffer again because the President has hired people in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Florida</st1:place></st1:State> who can’t count. We’ve
been there before." </span></font></b></span><b><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>In a news release, U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M.
Gutierrez offered no reason why the other $70 million owed to the fishermen and
businesses wasn't being released immediately. </span></font></b></span><b><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>“The salmon fishery has been a mainstay of the West
Coast’s ocean fishing revenues for many years,” said Gutierrez.
“This year’s closure left thousands of fishermen and dependent
businesses struggling to make ends meet. This disaster aid package of $100
million will help them get back on their feet.” </span></font></b></span><b><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>Brian Gorman, spokesman for NOAA Fisheries, said the
remaining $70 million of Congressionally appropriated disaster-relief money
"is expected to become available later in the year as the $100 million is
spent."</span></font></b></span><b><font size=2><span style='font-size:
10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>"The administration requested to transfer $70 million
for the Census, but I have no idea if there is support for this in
Congress," Gorman added. "If there is no vote to do otherwise, the
funds will remain as originally designated and the disaster relief aid will
become available after October 1. I expect all of the money to be
distributed." </span></font></b></span><b><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>He noted that the agency will provide the money in the form
of a grant to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. The commission
will distribute the money, based on the agreements reached with the states, to
fishermen and related businesses affected by this year’s closure of the
ocean salmon fishing season off <st1:State w:st="on">California</st1:State>, <st1:State
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State>, and <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Washington</st1:place></st1:State>. </span></font></b></span><b><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>The governors of all three West Coast states requested a
federal disaster declaration as a result of the closures. The declaration,
issued by Gutierrez in May, paved the way for Congress to appropriate the $170
million disaster-relief package in July. </span></font></b></span><b><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>The states of <st1:City w:st="on">Washington</st1:City>, <st1:State
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State>, and <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:State>
estimated damages to the fishing industry to total $290 million. The full
disaster aid is needed immediately in order that fishermen can make boat
payments, insurance payments, mortgage payments, and keep food on the
table. </span></font></b></span><b><font size=2><span style='font-size:
10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>In June, the Office of Management and Budget that puts
together the President’s annual budget sent Congress a revised budget
request for more funding to carry out the 2010 Census. The White House is
requesting $546 million more for the Census, and has proposed using $70 million
of the $170 million in salmon disaster money allocated in the Farm Bill, to pay
for the cost over-runs, according to DeFazio and Thompson. </span></font></b></span><b><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>The Administration entered into a contract with the Harris
Corporation, a <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Florida</st1:place></st1:State>
defense contractor, to conduct the Census, but the contractor has run into
serious cost over-runs amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars.
Congressmen DeFazio and Thompson and 13 other members of Congress sent
President Bush a letter at that time that they say was "largely
ignored" by the Administration. </span></font></b></span><b><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>The refusal to dispurse the $70 million in salmon aid relief
now is particularly outrageous because the Bush and Scharzenegger
administrations are largely responsible for the unprecedented fishery collapse.
The population of the <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sacramento</st1:place></st1:City>
fall run chinook salmon population has declined from over 800,000 in 2002 to
less than 60,000 fish this year. </span></font></b></span><b><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>The Bush and Schwarzenegger administrations claim that
"ocean conditions" are responsible for the collapse, but all of the
available evidence demonstrates that it is water policies that favor
agribusiness and corporate water developers over fish, the environment and
local communities that caused the dramatic decline. The collapse undoubtedly
occurred because of record water exports from the <st1:State w:st="on">California</st1:State>
Delta by the state and federal projects to drainage-impaired land in the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">San Joaquin</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Valley</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> during the years this year's
returning salmon were supposed to go to sea. For example, 2005 was a record
export year with 6.4 million acre feet of water diverted from the
estuary. </span></font></b></span><b><font size=2><span style='font-size:
10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>It is believed that many salmon never made out of Bay-Delta
estuary, but were instead chopped up in the Delta pumps, disoriented and
stranded in dead end sloughs because of reverse flows caused by pumping, and
deprived of forage. At the same time, the state of <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:State> failed to put its hatchery salmon
into salt water acclimation pens, as they had done previously, during 2005 and
2006. This resulted in increasing loss of salmon to predators when the stunned
salmon were released into <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">San
Pablo</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Bay</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. </span></font></b></span><b><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>I believe that you can't fully understand the Central Valley
chinook salmon collapse without understanding the dramatic decline of four <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:State> Delta pelagic
species - delta smelt, longfin smelt, juvenile striped bass and threadfin shad.
A team of federal and state scientists have pinpointed water exports as the
number one cause of the "Pelagic Organism Decline," followed by toxic
chemicals and invasive species. </span></font></b></span><b><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 face=Geneva><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;font-weight:bold'>As Peter Moyle,
prominent U.C. Davis fishery scientists, recently stated, "Overall,
blaming 'ocean conditions' for salmon declines is a lot like blaming
Hurricane Katrina for flooding New Orleans, while ignoring the many human
errors that made the disaster inevitable, such as poor construction of
levees or destruction of protective salt marshes. The listings of the
winter and spring runs of Central Valley Chinook as endangered species
were warnings of likely declines on an even larger scale. Continuing on our
present course will result in the permanent loss of a valuable and iconic
fishery unless we start taking corrective action soon." </span></font></b></span><b><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>Meawhile, the Bush administration, while trying to steal
money allocated to the victims of a fishery collapse engineered by the Bush and
Schwarzenegger administrations, wants to soak the taxpayers for another $700
billion for corporate criminals who should be in jail, not receving another
handout. That's on top of $1.1 trillion for other recent bailouts, including
A.I.G., Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Bear Stearns. Just when you think the Bush
regime has sunk to a new low, it will always find a way to reach a lower level
of criminality in its policy of "socialism for the rich." </span></font></b></span><b><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>Note: The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
held a hearing on the Harris Corporation and the problems with the Census on
June 11, 2008. </span></font></b></span><b><font size=2><span style='font-size:
10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><a href="http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=2001"
title="blocked::http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=2001"><span
class=apple-style-span><font size=1 color="#17345c" face=Geneva
title="blocked::http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=2001"><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#17345C;text-decoration:none'><span
title="blocked::http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=2001">http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=2001</span></span></font></span></a></span></font></b><span
class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111" face=Geneva><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;font-weight:bold'>. </span></font></b></span><b><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>The text of the letter sent to President Bush is below: </span></font></b></span><b><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>September 18, 2008 </span></font></b></span><b><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>The Honorable Jim Nussle, Director </span></font></b></span><b><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>Office of Management and Budget </span></font></b></span><b><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><span
class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111" face=Geneva><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;font-weight:bold'>Washington</span></font></b></span></st1:City><span
class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111" face=Geneva><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;font-weight:bold'>, <st1:State
w:st="on">DC</st1:State></span></font></b></span></st1:place><span
class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111" face=Geneva><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;font-weight:bold'>.
20503 </span></font></b></span><b><font size=2><span style='font-size:
10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>Dear Director Nussle: </span></font></b></span><b><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>We write with increasing concern regarding full disbursement
of the $170 million appropriated by Congress to compensate fishers for the
unprecedented closure of the West Coast salmon fishery. </span></font></b></span><b><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>Earlier this week, NOAA Fisheries (NOAA) indicated that it
would be dispersing $100 million of the $170 million appropriated by Congress
to provide aid to affected fishers. NOAA further indicated that the remaining
$70 million may be disbursed if further need was demonstrated, and “if
Congress did not act to rescind the funds.” We have been informed that
NOAA is not dispersing the full amount now because OMB has not yet released the
funds. We find this unconscionable. </span></font></b></span><b><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>First, as we expressed to you in June, it is unacceptable
that the Administration has proposed – and now seems to be trying to
implement – a plan to take disaster aid from the fishing communities of
California, Oregon and Washington to pay for cost overruns associated with this
Administration’s questionable contract with the Harris Corporation to
complete the 2010 census. Indeed, the reason why Congress had to step up to
provide this emergency aid to fishers in our states is because of this
Administration’s unlawful and shortsighted policies regarding the Pacific
Northwest’s rivers. </span></font></b></span><b><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>Second, we have received no satisfactory explanation for why
OMB can legally withhold funds that Congress has appropriated for a specific
purpose such as this. The states of <st1:State w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State>, <st1:State
w:st="on">Washington</st1:State>, and <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:State>
have followed the process set out in the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which provides
for emergency assistance. Now that NOAA has accepted the application from
Pacific Fishery Management Council, and has approved the $170 million grant to
the states, OMB is legally obligated to release the funds so that affected
fishers may receive the aid they desperately need. The law provides for no
further “assessment of need,” and we are aware of no precedent for
OMB’s alleged “phased” disbursement of these funds. </span></font></b></span><b><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>To us, the fact that OMB is withholding $70 million, when it
proposed in June to reprogram this exact same amount to pay for the
Administration’s mistakes with its census contract, smacks of political
gamesmanship. Playing games with the livelihood of fishers across the <st1:place
w:st="on">Pacific Northwest</st1:place> is yet another sign that the Bush
Administration has no commitment to protect our valuable river systems, and no
interest in helping the fishing communities and economies that rely on them. It
is also completely unacceptable. We insist that you comply with congressional
intent and immediately release the full $170 million in federal disaster aid
for <st1:place w:st="on">Pacific Northwest</st1:place> fishers. </span></font></b></span><b><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>Sincerely, </span></font></b></span><b><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>Baird </span></font></b></span><b><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>Blumenauer </span></font></b></span><b><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>Capps </span></font></b></span><b><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>DeFazio </span></font></b></span><b><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>Eshoo </span></font></b></span><b><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>Farr </span></font></b></span><b><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>Hooley </span></font></b></span><b><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>Matsui </span></font></b></span><b><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>Thompson, Mike </span></font></b></span><b><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>Woolsey </span></font></b></span><b><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>Wu </span></font></b></span><b><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><font size=1 color="#111111"
face=Geneva><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:#111111;
font-weight:bold'>Miller, George </span></font></b></span><b><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><em><i><font size=3 color=gray
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>Byron
Leydecker</span></font></i></em></st1:PersonName><em><i><font color=gray
face="Times New Roman"><span style='color:gray'>, JCT</span></font></i></em><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><em><i><font size=3 color=gray face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>Chair, Friends of <st1:place w:st="on">Trinity
River</st1:place></span></font></i></em><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on"><em><i><font
size=3 color=gray face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:gray'>PO Box</span></font></i></em></st1:Street><em><i><font
color=gray face="Times New Roman"><span style='color:gray'> 2327</span></font></i></em></st1:address><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><em><i><font
size=3 color=gray face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:gray'>Mill Valley</span></font></i></em></st1:City><em><i><font
color=gray face="Times New Roman"><span style='color:gray'>, <st1:State w:st="on">CA</st1:State>
<st1:PostalCode w:st="on">94942-2327</st1:PostalCode></span></font></i></em></st1:place><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><em><i><font size=3 color=gray face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>415 383 4810</span></font></i></em><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><em><i><font size=3 color=gray face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>415 519 4810 cell</span></font></i></em><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><em><i><font size=3 color=gray face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'><a href="mailto:bwl3@comcast.net">bwl3@comcast.net</a></span></font></i></em><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><em><i><font size=3 color=gray face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'><a
href="mailto:bleydecker@stanfordalumni.org">bleydecker@stanfordalumni.org</a>
(secondary)</span></font></i></em><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><em><i><font size=3 color=gray face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'><a href="http://fotr.org">http://fotr.org</a>
</span></font></i></em><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><a href="mailto:bwl3@comcast.net"></a> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
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