Dear Friends,
Earlier this year, Congressman Mike Simpson, Republican of Idaho, put out a proposal to address an unsustainable cycle of conflicts over salmon and energy in the Columbia-Snake River Basin. This area is home to a complex web of communities, cultures, ecosystems, and infrastructure – and increasingly, salmon and steelhead populations in crisis.
It’s clear that the status quo is not working.
It is an existential threat to iconic fish species, to indigenous ways of life, and to sustainability and prosperity throughout the region.
We have an opportunity to end this cycle of conflict, degradation, and regional uncertainty. Mr. Simpson’s proposal, which proposes to remove the four lower Snake River dams and make substantial investments in fish restoration, energy, agriculture, transportation, communities, and recreation, is a bold starting point to address this and deserves thoughtful consideration from all sides.
These days it’s rare to see a Democrat and Republican thoughtfully discussing something together, but I’m committed to working with him and communities across the region to help craft solutions that protect and restore salmon throughout the Basin, ensure environmental protections, and help our communities thrive.
To make progress on this, it’s critical that we hear from you. Please use this link to submit questions and feedback for potential discussion during the conversation by 5 PM PT on Monday, May 3.
If you are interested in watching my virtual conversation with Congressman Simpson as we discuss the opportunities with his proposal, along with your ideas and questions, please tune in to my YouTube channel here on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at 6:00 PM PT.