Thompson fights for speedy release of emergency salmon funds

The Times-Standard
Eureka Times Standard

May 31, 2007

North Coast Congressman Mike Thompson, following the president's signature on emergency disaster relief for the Pacific salmon industry, has assembled members of Congress from California and Oregon to call for the prompt distribution of the funding.

”The president's approval of this disaster relief is long overdue,” said Thompson. “The administration's failed water policies resulted in our country's largest commercial salmon fishery disaster, and North Coast residents have suffered because of it. Our salmon fishermen and businesses will finally get the aid they desperately need.”

The $60.4 million in emergency funding will be distributed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency, which has regulatory jurisdiction over the nation's fishing industries. Thompson and members of the state congressional delegations formally invited William Hogarth, director of NOAA Fisheries, to a meeting in Washington , D.C. to discuss how and when those affected by the disaster will receive aid.

”We've been working for the past two years to get this funding, and now that we have it, we can't waste another minute getting it to our salmon fishermen and related-businesses,” said Thompson.

In other business, Thompson, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, Human Intelligence, Analysis and Counterintelligence, has embarked on a five-day intelligence oversight trip to the United Kingdom and Sweden .

The purpose, according to his office, is to examine the growth of religious extremism in Europe and the threat that this trend poses to the U.S. and our allies. In addition, Thompson will meet with local officials to discuss how the U.S. and European countries can better coordinate counterterrorism measures and the sharing of intelligence.

”Strong intelligence is our best weapon for fighting terrorism,” said Thompson. “And close collaboration with our allies and partners is critical given that many of these extremist groups operate in multiple countries. We need to share information with our allies and learn from each others' experiences if we are to counter the threats posed by these dangerous groups.”

Thompson, a Vietnam combat veteran, will also spend a day with wounded soldiers at the Army's Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany . This is his second visit to the hospital since fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan began.