Smith asks White House for salmon aid Wants help for areas hit by shortened season

May. 11, 2006 By KTVZ.com news sources WASHINGTON - In a letter Wednesday to the Office of Management and Budget, Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) called on the Bush Administration to redirect existing federal tax dollars to aid Oregon fishing communities impacted by the restricted salmon fishing season. After outlining the situation Oregon's fishing communities are facing, Senator Smith requested the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to "identify and reprogram sufficient funds within the current budget to provide relief to fishermen and supporting businesses on the Oregon coast." Reprogramming funds would allow tax dollars already approved by Congress to be immediately utilized as aid. In addition, Smith is urging the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to declare a fisheries failure as quickly as possible to make way for the distribution of financial assistance to impacted fishermen, business owners and workers. Senator Smith has also introduced legislation (S. 2662) that would provide aid, and is working with colleagues on the Senate Appropriations Committee to make funding available in next year's budget which Congress is currently drafting. In the letter, Senator Smith re-emphasized his call for a comprehensive approach to the issues facing the Klamath Basin. "We must work toward a bi-state, ecosystem-based strategy to provide for the long-term health of the Klamath River and its tributaries. Until health of the ecosystem is restored, we must be prepared to help those impacted by the poor water conditions." The complete text of Senator Smith's letter to the Office of Management is below: May 10, 2006 The Honorable Clay Johnson III Acting Director Office of Management and Budget 725 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20503 Dear Acting Director Johnson: I am writing to request that you reprogram fiscal year 2006 funds to provide relief to Oregon fishing communities impacted by the restricted salmon season along the West Coast. For the third consecutive year, the number of naturally spawning Klamath River fall Chinook salmon is expected to fall below the conservation objective called for in the fishery management plan. As a result, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (the Council) was forced to consider the closure of salmon fisheries impacting fall Chinook salmon returning to the Klamath River. Last month, the Council recommended and Secretary Gutierrez approved the use of an emergency rule to allow for very limited salmon fishing along 700 miles of the Oregon and California coast. While the limited season is helpful, it is estimated that the impact to Oregon's fishing communities could still exceed $20 million. This summer will mark the first time in history that there will be no commercial salmon fishery out of Coos Bay, Oregon. I have written Secretary Gutierrez to request that he expedite the process for determining whether to declare a fisheries failure. In the meantime, I ask that you identify and reprogram sufficient funds within the current budget to provide relief to fishermen and supporting businesses on the Oregon coast. Five years of drought have exacerbated the poor river conditions in the Klamath Basin and brought a great deal of economic hardship to agricultural and fishing communities in my state. Since coming to the United States Senate, I have continually worked for a comprehensive approach to the issues facing the Basin. We must work toward a bi-state, ecosystem-based strategy to provide for the long-term health of the Klamath River and its tributaries. Until health of the ecosystem is restored, we must be prepared to help those impacted by the poor water conditions. I appreciate your attention to this issue and look forward to working with you and Ambassador Portman on this matter of great importance to my constituents. Sincerely, Gordon H. Smith United States Senate Cc: The Honorable Rob Portman