Special interest groups held a press conference in Washington, D.C. today pushing dam removal in the Pacific Northwest.  A statement from Congressman Doc Hastings follows:

"These groups will go to any extreme to push their dam removal agenda. They'll manufacture a study or ignore scientific facts, whatever it takes to tear out our dams.

For six years I've stopped any action in the U.S. House on Representative McDermott's dam removal legislation.  One can expect these groups will be pushing hard for action next year.  With Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi on record in support of breaching Northwest dams, those who share my commitment to protecting our dams need to be on high alert.

These special interest groups can try to ignore and dismiss the scientific data showing salmon are returning in record numbers, but the majority of those living in the Pacific Northwest know we can have both healthy salmon runs and the clean, renewable hydropower that our dams provide."