Crapo: Vote Is Breakthrough In Salmon Recovery

Washington, DC â?? Idaho Senator Mike Crapo says the decision by Senate appropriators to increase the Idaho share of salmon recovery funding envisioned in his bill S. 2788, the Pacific Salmon Recovery Fund, foreshadows good developments for future salmon recovery efforts. Crapo introduced S. 2788 this month as a way to ensure Idaho is included in future federal salmon recovery funding efforts. The Senate Appropriations Committee has voted to increase Idahoâ??s share of funding to $6 million for Fiscal Year 2005. Crapo, who chairs the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Water, noted Idaho won federal salmon funding for the first time in Fiscal Year 2004. President Bush then called for Idahoâ??s inclusion in his budget for salmon recovery, and now Idahoâ??s share of the federal spending has risen from $5 to $6 million. â??It was only two years ago that Idaho became eligible to share in federal salmon recovery dollars, despite having more than half the habitat for Northwest Chinook salmon,â?? Crapo said. â??This bill makes Idaho a full partner with Oregon, Washington, California, and Alaska. I am pleased Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens co-sponsored this bill and helped make sure the language from the bill was included in what was accepted by the full Appropriations Committee.â?? Crapo added, â??I look forward to the final Senate passage of the $6 million in Idaho salmon recovery money included in the Commerce, Justice, State, and Judiciary budget for this year. Having Senator Stevensâ?? support for Idaho funding is a big step toward improving habitat by actions such as reconnecting more Idaho waterways like the Lemhi tributaries, more fence building, and other habitat improvements in consort with Idaho landowners.â?? # # #