Tell Congress to Support a Snake River that Works for People and Salmon!

Contact your representative today!
Americans deserve a solution that works for salmon, Northwest communities, and taxpayers nationwide. Congress has an enormous opportunity to recover wild salmon and steelhead in the Columbia and Snake Rivers, create new family-wage jobs, and build a clean energy future.

The Salmon Solutions and Planning Act - HR 3503
Introduced in late July by Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA) and Congressman Tom Petri (R-WI), the Salmon Solutions and Planning Act of 2009 (SSPA - HR 3503) now has over 30 co-sponsors from members of Congress across the country. This bipartisan bill will provide both Congress and federal agencies with up-to-date, thorough information about how to best protect and restore wild salmon and steelhead in the Pacific Northwest's Columbia and Snake River Basin.

This legislation offers a way forward to recover these salmon in a manner that can create family-wage jobs, revitalize regional economies, and invest in a clean energy future.

We need your help today
Please contact your member of Congress right now and urge them to be an original co-sponsor the Salmon Solutions and Planning Act of 2009!

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Subject:

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

(Edit Letter Below)

The recovery of wild salmon and steelhead in the Columbia and Snake Rivers is an urgent natural resource issue facing Pacific Northwest communities and American taxpayers. I write today to ask you to become a co-sponsor of the Salmon Solutions and Planning Act of 2009 (H.R. 3503), sponsored by Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA) and Congressman Tom Petri (R-WI).

H.R. 3503 is a bipartisan bill that would provide both Congress and federal agencies with up-to-date, thorough information about how to best protect and restore wild salmon and steelhead in the Pacific Northwest's Columbia and Snake River Basin. This legislation offers a way forward to recover these salmon in a manner that can create family-wage jobs, revitalize regional economies, and invest in a clean energy future.

Snake River salmon and salmon dependent communities are in crisis. Today, all runs of Snake River salmon and steelhead are either already extinct or listed for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Scientists say that unless we take bold, new actions to restore these magnificent fish, we will very likely see some Snake River salmon and steelhead populations go extinct in our lifetime. The studies authorized in this legislation would provide the necessary information to make constructive and forward-looking policy decisions.

To date, federal taxpayers have spent more than $8 billion dollars on failed salmon recovery efforts. With many populations still at or below the perilously low levels that led to their listing under the ESA, it's clear the expensive status quo is not working. H.R. 3503 will help identify actions that will both save salmon and protect communities - with a focus on cost-effective and commonsense solutions.

Congress must ensure that the necessary planning and evaluation is done to efficiently manage salmon recovery and respond rapidly if new actions, such as the removal of the four lower Snake River dams, are required. The studies authorized by H.R. 3503 on transportation, energy, riverfront restoration and irrigation will help us understand how to meet the needs of American taxpayers, Northwest electricity ratepayers, and local communities. With forward-looking planning, we can protect rural jobs, farmers, energy users and communities while at the same time restoring wild salmon to the Columbia and Snake River Basin.

Please support and help pass the Salmon Solutions and Planning Act of 2009. I look forward to your action on this crucial issue. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]

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