H-4129.1          _______________________________________________

                             HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 4034

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1992 Regular Session

By Representatives R. King, Basich and Orr

Read first time 01/29/92.  Referred to Committee on Fisheries & Wildlife.Seeking federal funds for operations and improvements for Mitchell act hatchery facilities.

     TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:

     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

     WHEREAS, The wild salmon and steelhead resources of the Columbia river are in decline, and one stock, the Snake river sockeye salmon, has been listed as endangered by National Marine Fisheries Service; and

     WHEREAS, The federally funded Mitchell act hatchery facilities existing on the Columbia river and its tributaries may be critical for wild stock supplementation; and

     WHEREAS, The federally funded Mitchell act hatchery facilities existing on the Columbia river and its tributaries are currently the source of almost all commercial salmon harvest from the Columbia river system; and

     WHEREAS, These facilities are in a state of disrepair, and require Congressional appropriation for ongoing maintenance and capital improvements;

     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the Congress appropriate sufficient funds during the upcoming session to adequately fund operations and capital improvements for Mitchell act facilities from which hatchery salmon do not negatively impact wild salmon stocks in the states of Washington and Oregon.

     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George Bush, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and to each member of Congress from the State of Washington.