The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Senate section on pages S381 on Feb. 7, 2000.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS
The following petitions and memorials were laid before the Senate and were referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:
POM-400. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Maine relative to the protection and restoration of the Atlantic Salmon; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Joint Resolution
Whereas, the Federal Government, through the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service, has proposed to list the Atlantic salmon in 8 Maine rivers under the federal Endangered Species Act and has indicated a potential to include additional Maine rivers to the detriment of the agriculture, manufacturing, forest products and aquaculture industries of Maine on the basis of limited scientific evidence;
Whereas, Maine is strongly committed to the restoration of the Atlantic salmon to its waters, as demonstrated through the development of a comprehensive and cooperative Salmon Conservation Plan, which was produced over the course of 3 years with input from federal officials, relevant state departments, local conservation groups, affected businesses, farmers and riverside residents; and
Whereas, since the area covered by these 8 rivers and other rivers that may be included in the listing in the future contains \1/3\ of the human population of Maine and virtually all of the aquaculture industry, all of Maine will feel the impact of the naming of the Atlantic salmon to the Endangered Species List; and
Whereas, adding the Atlantic salmon to the Endangered Species List in order to help the return of the Atlantic salmon in significant numbers to Maine's waters compromises partnership between Maine and the Federal Government, which has had a history of good faith; and
Whereas, there exist many significant threats to the Atlantic salmon that lie beyond the influence of Maine that also affect the prospects of long-term Atlantic salmon restoration to the rivers of Maine; and
Whereas, Maine is strongly committed to the restoration of the Atlantic salmon to its waters, has committed millions of dollars to its plan to produce this result and feels that the naming of the Atlantic salmon to the Endangered Species List is premature; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That We, your Memorialists, respectfully urge and request that the President of the United States, the Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt, the Secretary of Commerce William Daly and the Congress of the United States reconsider the intent to include the Atlantic salmon on the Endangered Species List as it would benefit neither the Atlantic salmon nor the people of Maine and allow Maine to continue to execute its own comprehensive plan to restore the Atlantic salmon to its waters; and be it further
Resolved, That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the President of the United States, to the President of the United States Senate, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States, to the Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt, to the Secretary of Commerce William Daley and to each Member of the Maine Congressional Delegation.
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