THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all very much. I appreciate you coming out
to say hello. Thank you. Be seated, please. Thanks for coming out to
say hello. It's a little different view from the views we have in
Crawford. (Laughter.) The temperature is a little cooler, too, I want
you to know.
But thanks for coming. It's such an honor to be here at the Ice
Harbor Lock and Dam. I find it interesting that another Texan came to
dedicate the dam. Vice President Lyndon Johnson dedicated this
unbelievable facility in 1962. He said it's "an asset of astounding
importance to the region and to America." He was right in 1962. And
when I tell you its an asset of astounding importance to this region of
America in 2003, I'm right, as well. (Applause.)
We just had a great tour, seeing this facility and its
technological wonders. This work has added to the strength of your
state, and it's added to the prosperity of the people. It's really
important that we remember that when we're talking about national
assets. After all, people's money built this facility, and we want the
facility to help the people. The facility has been a crucial part of
the past in this region, and I'm here to tell you it's going to be a
crucial part of the future, as well. (Applause.)
I was pleased to see the incredible care that goes in to protecting
the salmon that journey up the river. It's an important message to send
to people, it seems like to me, that a flourishing salmon population is
a vital part of the vibrancy of this incredibly beautiful part of our
country. And I appreciate the commitment that we are making as a
country, and that you're making as a community, for salmon restoration.
What I saw was, and what you know, firsthand, is that we can have good,
clean hydroelectric power and salmon restoration going on at the same
time. And that's what I want to spend some time talking about.
(Applause.) We have a responsibility to work together to make sure the
human condition is strong and to make sure that the salmon flourish.
And we'll meet that challenge.
I thank Gale Norton for her leadership. She is the Secretary of the
Department of the Interior. She is a lady from the West. She
understands land management. She knows what I know, that the folks who
live closest to the land are those that care most about the land. And
we appreciate that attitude. (Applause.)
I'm traveling in some pretty darn good company, too, when it comes
to the congressional delegation. Old Doc Hastings has made a pretty
good hand -- (applause). He informed me first thing, before he even
said hello, that he was a grandfather again -- today. So
congratulations, Doc. (Applause.) I wouldn't take too much credit for
it, Doc, if I were you. (Laughter.)
I appreciate so very much traveling with George Nethercutt, as
well. (Applause.) Both Doc and George are always telling me about how
important eastern Washington is. (Applause.) Every time I talk to them,
they're reminding not only that the folks here are just fine, fine,
down-to-earth, hardworking people, but our nation is blessed to have
the resources that are coming from this part of your beautiful state.
The western part of your state is beautiful, as well, and it's well
represented -- parts of it are well represented by my close friend
Jennifer Dunn. I'm glad you're here, Jennifer. (Applause.) The Acting
Secretary of the Army, Les Brownlee, is with us today. I appreciate you
coming, Les. Thank you for being here. (Applause.) We've got a lot of
folks from the Corps of Engineers that are with us, people who are
making this dam work, and I want to thank them for their service to our
country. I appreciate so very much the National Marine Fishery Service,
through the Commerce Department, the representatives that are here, as
well.
I thank all the mayors that have come out; the state and local
officials. I like to tease the mayors and tell them they've got a
pretty darn tough job. After all, if the pothole isn't filled, they're
going to hear from somebody firsthand at the coffee shop. (Laughter.)
That doesn't happen to the President much. (Laughter.) I thank the
mayors for coming. Just keep the garbage picked up. (Laughter.)
I appreciate so much the tribal chiefs that are here with us today,
distinguished leaders that are here to make sure that the heritage of
the salmon is protected and honored and revered, Chief Burke and Black
Wolf, Sockeye and Sailor -- I'm honored you all are here and thank you
for coming, as well, for taking time. (Applause.)
One of the things I've learned about Washington, D.C., there's a
lot of experts on the environment there. (Laughter.) At least they
think they are. They're constantly trying to tell people what to do.
My judgment is those who think they know what they're doing in
Washington, D.C. ought to come out and visit with the folks that are
actually protecting the environment. (Applause.) People such as
yourself. I have been to your state enough to know that the people of
this great state are never very far away from some of nature's most
beautiful sights. And the people who appreciate those beautiful sights
the most are those who live close to the sights. They understand best
of all what it means to be a good steward of land and water.
The Washington way of life depends, and always will depend, on the
wise protection of the natural environment. It's been a part of your
past; it's going to be an important part of the future of this state --
and our country, for that matter. And a vital part of the natural
environment is the Pacific salmon.
Lewis and Clarke -- as Doc made sure -- pointed out where Lewis and
Clarke stayed -- where he thought they stayed. (Laughter.) But he did
say that they stayed in this part of the world a long time. I can see
why. The weather's nice, and the scenery is beautiful. But think about
what it was like when those rivers in 1805 time frame were just full of
salmon. It must have been an unbelievable sight for them, particularly
if they were hungry. (Laughter.)
Today, there are a lot fewer salmon in the waters. And the mission
has got to be to fight the decline. The mission has got to be to make
sure that we understand that without the salmon in the Columbia and
Snake Rivers that this would be a huge loss to this part of the world.
That's part of what the focus of my short discussion is today, is to
let you know that we understand in this administration that we want to
work with the local folks to revitalize the salmon runs.
The good news is that salmon runs are up. (Applause.) And that's
really positive. And we just need to make sure we keep that momentum. I
want to talk about some ways we're going to do it. Gale mentioned one
thing is that we can spend that money in Washington, and we're writing
a pretty good size check in '04. It helps keep the commitment about
what I said when I ran for President. I said, look, we are concerned
about the fish. We're also concerned about the citizens of Washington
State who depend upon the dams for electricity, and the water to water
their land so we can have the crops necessary to eat in America.
But the economy of this part of the world has relied upon the
steady supply of hydropower. And we've got an energy problem in
America. We don't need to be breaching any dams that are producing
electricity. (Applause.) And we won't. Part of a national energy policy
has got to make sure that we increase supply and maintain supply. And I
saw the six generators that are able to capture a steady flow of water
that produces that power, that enables people to live. We want the
salmon to live; we want the quality of life in this part of the world
to be strong, as well.
You know something, I talk about people closest to the land care
about the land more than most. Every day is Earth Day if you're a
farmer. (Applause.) Farmers depend upon the quality of the land and the
quality of the water. And I understand that. And I understand that
this dam and the dams along this river have a got a lot to do with the
ability for people to farm the land.
You know, one of the great things about our national security is we
don't have to worry about food from some other country. We produce
enough to eat here in America. And that's good for our national
security. I can't say the same for energy, by the way. We're reliant
upon foreign sources of energy. That is a problem for national
security. We're not reliant upon foreign sources of food. And that's
important. This dam helps us become -- so that we don't get reliant
upon foreign sources of food.
Our farmers depend upon the dams on this river. People who run the
barges need the dams. The dams accommodate -- in other words, commerce
happens, people can make a living, people have food on the table so
they can feed their families. At the same time, the salmon are getting
more plentiful. And it's a positive story, and it's a story we've got
to continue to make sure this stays positive.
We have shown the world that we can have good quality of life and,
at the same time, save salmon. And that's exactly what this
administration will continue to do. I understand we can't do it alone,
but we can help. We can make a difference. As Gale mentioned, the
budgets are increasing. We're helping on technology. I just saw some
technology that enables the young salmon and Steelhead to pass through
the dam near the surface of the dam at lower speeds and lower
pressures. That will help the young salmon runs. The technology is
employed at the Lower Granite Dam. It will be installed soon here at
Ice Harbor. In other words, the federal government is doing its part by
gathering the technologies that will make the salmon runs stronger and
better over time.
I bet in '62 there wasn't that much concern about salmon runs, when
Vice President Lyndon Johnson was here. I haven't reviewed his entire
speech, I don't know how much time he spent talking about technologies
necessary to save salmon. But in 2003, we can say we're developing
good, strong technologies to save salmon. We're getting better at it.
(Applause.)
And I appreciate so much the hard work of the federal employees
that are doing what we pay them to do. I also know my friend, Donnie
Evans, who is the Secretary of Commerce, has got conservation plans
that are now being developed and implemented in Chelan and Douglas
County public utility districts. It's a good creative use of federal
money, it seems like to me, to create these conservation plans and
habitat restoration programs, to be smart about how we develop the
strategies necessary to encourage salmon runs to increase.
The plan will minimize the impact of dams, improving fish bypass
systems and hatchery programs. And we'll continue to work to fund local
habitat restoration programs. In other words, there's a lot going on.
But the truth of the matter is, in order to make this strategy work
we're going to have to work with the local folks. That's the reality of
the situation.
I know that -- I saw some of the irrigation systems, spray systems
-- they look pretty darn modern to me. I suspect some of the oldtime
farmers here will tell you that there's been a lot of technological
advancement when it comes to conservation of water. The more water our
farmers conserve by using efficient sprinkler systems, obviously, the
less operating costs they have. But also it helps the salmon. And so,
for the farmers who are here, I want to thank you for doing your part
not only feeding America, but being good stewards of the water you
use.
There's a group called Fish First. I met a fellow named Gary
Loomis. And I appreciate Gary coming today. Gary is a guy who cares
about restoring salmon runs and salmon habitat. So he and a group of
volunteers have come together to work on the salmon projects around the
state of Washington. They're installing culverts to accommodate the
fish. They're creating side channels and ponds. They're getting their
money through private donations. There's a lot of people who care
about salmon runs, and they ought to be helping by contributing money.
And they're using volunteers and some public grants.
As I understand that Gary Loomis' group is going to add another
4,900 foot of stream channel, mainly through volunteer work. And I
appreciate what you're doing, Gary. I want to -- why don't you stand up
and give people a chance to look at you and let you know the --
(applause). I want to thank you for what you're doing. This will give
me a chance to tell the people of the great state of Washington and
Oregon that if you're interested in salmon runs, if you want to do your
part about conserving this great legacy, volunteer with groups like
Gary Loomis' group.
There's a lot of good conservation groups that have a good
common-sense view about making sure that the quality of human life is
strong, and the quality of fish life is vibrant and healthy, as well.
Volunteer help makes a difference. (Applause.)
I appreciate the positive attitude that people have here in this
part of the world, the can-do attitude -- "here is a problem; let's go
solve it together." And that's what we're here to confirm. It makes a
-- it's a lot better than what happens a lot of times when it comes to
conservation issues. And that is, people just file lawsuit after
lawsuit after lawsuit, just kind of tie everything up in endless
litigation and nothing gets better.
We've got that issue, by the way, with our forests. I was in Oregon
yesterday, saw the devastating forest fires that are taking place. It's
just sad to see national assets just go up in tremendous flames,
because we have not done a good job of thinning out our forests and
protecting our forests. And a lot of the reason why is because people
just file lawsuits, and we get stuck in the court, and nothing happens.
The forests don't benefit. People in the communities close to the
forest are -- have their lives endangered because of the kindling that
has piled up. We need to cut through all this business and get solving
the national problems.
And so the good news about what's happening here is it looks like
you've been able to bypass all the endless litigation, come up with
solutions to the problem so that the people can say, you know, the job
well done. Generations -- (applause) -- future generations can say,
these folks had a chance and they responded.
And I want to thank you for what you do to make sure that this part
of the world is as vibrant and healthy, and the heritage of the salmon
remains strong. There's no doubt in my mind you will accomplish the
objective. No doubt in my mind we will help. We want to be helpers, not
hinderers, coming out of Washington, D.C.
The amazing thing about this country is when we put our mind to
something, we can do a lot. We can do a lot. (Applause.) My mind is
still focused on protecting America, by the way. We're going to hunt
the terrorists down wherever they are, and bring them to justice.
(Applause.) And we're making progress. See, in America we know that
freedom -- free countries will be peaceful countries. We also know that
freedom is not America's gift to the world, it is the Almighty's gift
to every human being. (Applause.)
Abroad, this great nation will lead the world to more peaceful
times. We'll promote freedom. We worry about the human condition when
people are enslaved by tyranny. And at home, we'll protect our assets.
We'll conserve our beautiful environment. And at the same time, we'll
work to make sure that people can make a living, that people can work
hard, put money on the table, they can do their duty as a mom or a dad
for -- to feed their families.
Listen, America is a fabulous country, fabulous not only because of
the values we hold dear, but fabulous because of the nature of the
people, who are the American people. Thank you for coming. May God
bless you. (Applause.)