List of  Senators and Congressmen supporting American Heritage River designations.

For Immediate Release Contact: Elliot Diringer

May 8, 1998 (202) 456-6224

Twelve of 126 communities applying for a new White House initiative to help revitalize rivers will not be considered because of opposition by their local Congressman or U.S. Senator. Stretches of 14 other nominated rivers also are out of the running because of Congressional opposition.

White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Chair Kathleen A. McGinty announced today that the 26 rivers and river sections will not be eligible for Presidential designation as an American Heritage River because their nomination was "vetoed" by a Member of Congress. McGinty said her office received 45 letters from Members opposing specific nominations, and 197 Congressional letters supporting nominations.

"Comments by Members of Congress have run more than 4-1 in favor of the American Heritage Rivers initiative and we are pleased by this overwhelming show of support," said McGinty. "Regrettably, 26 rivers or stretches of river are now out of the running. I hope these communities will continue working nonetheless to realize their visions for their rivers."

The American Heritage Rivers initiative, announced by President Clinton in his 1997 State of the Union address, recognizes and assists voluntary river restoration efforts. Communities were invited to nominate their rivers for designation, and the 10 selected will receive help tapping existing federal resources to carry out their plans for restoring their rivers and riverfronts.

The 126 nominations, from 46 states and the District of Columbia, include rivers large and small -- from the Santa Rosa Creek in California to the Cedar River in Iowa to the Hudson River in New York.

An advisory committee appointed by the President will convene in Washington, D.C., on May 11 and 12 to review the remaining nominations. The committee will recommend up to 20 of the nominations to the President, who will make the final selection. It is expected the 10 American Heritage Rivers will be named in June.

At a hearing of the House Resources Committee on September 24, 1997, the majority members of the committee strongly urged the Administration to allow Members to "veto" any river or river stretch running through their districts. The Administration agreed, and Members were asked to inform CEQ of their opposition by January 23. If a river runs through more than one district, any section not opposed by a Member remains eligible for designation.

The designation of three river sections, the South Platte in Colorado, the Willamette in Oregon and the Missouri in Nebraska, have been opposed by one Senator from each state, but will still be considered because local members of the House support the nominations or are neutral. The Senator’s opposition will be appropriately weighed in the selection process, McGinty said.

Each community submitted a detailed plan for restoring and protecting the environmental, economic and cultural values of its river and riverfront. A community’s plan could aim to clean up pollution, attract businesses, improve flood protection, protect farm land, rebuild historic docks and buildings, restore eroded stream banks or promote new economic opportunities.

For each American Heritage River, a "River Navigator" will be appointed to help the community identify federal programs and resources that can be used to carry out its plan. Federal agencies also will make field staff available to help match community needs with available resources. Federal agencies will have no regulatory powers or control over local decision-making.

All communities that submitted nominations will be encouraged to continue their river restoration efforts. Each will be invited to a symposium to exchange ideas with other communities and to learn about government and private resources that can help. Each also will receive site-specific data on its river, including planning software and economic modeling tools.

Information on the American Heritage Rivers initiative, including a complete list of nominated rivers, is available on the Web at epa.gov/rivers.

A list of members of the House and Senate who opposed nominations is attached, along with a list of Members who supported specific nominations.

San Luis Rey River, CA --Rep. Randy Cunningham (CA-51); Rep. Ron Packard (CA-48)

Snohomish River, WA -- Rep. Jack Metcalf (WA-2)

Upper Rio Grande, NM -- Rep. Bill Redmond (NM-3); Rep. Steve Schiff (NM-1); Joe Skeen (NM-2)

River Sections Eliminated From Consideration

River sections that run through the listed Members’ district(s) will be excluded from any designation, but the

remaining part of the nomination will still considered.

American River, CA -- Representative John Doolittle (CA-4), Richard Pombo (CA-11)

Arkansas River, AR, CO, OK, KS -- Representative Marion Berry (AR-1), Senator Sam Brownback (KS),

Representative Tom Coburn (OK-2), Representative Jay Dickey (AR-4), Representative Jerry Moran (KS-1),

Representative Todd Tiahrt (KS-4), Asa Hutchinson (AR-3), Senator Tim Hutchinson

(AR), Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (CO)

Columbia River, OR --Senator Gordon H. Smith (OR)

French Broad River, NC -- Representative Charles Taylor (NC-11)

James River, VA -- Representative Thomas Bliley, Jr. (VA-7)

Jordan River, UT --Representative Christopher Cannon (UT-3)

Mississippi River, MO -- Representative Pat Danner (MO-6), Representative James Talent (MO-2)

Missouri River, MT, MO, NE, SD -- Representative Pat Danner (MO-6), Representative Rick Hill (MT-ALL),

Representative Kenny Hulshof (MO-9), Representative James Talent (MO-2), Representative Ike Skelton (MO-4),

Senator Sam Brownback (KS), Senator Conrad Burns (MT), Senator Chuck Hagel (NE), Representative John Thune

(SD-ALL), Representative Vincent Snowbarger (KS-3)

Ohio River, IN -- Representative John Hostettler (IN-8)

Ouachita River, LA/AR -- Representative Jay Dickey (AR-4), Representative Asa Hutchinson (AR-3), Senator Tim

Hutchinson (AR)

St. John’s River, FL -- Representative David Weldon (FL-15), Representative Cliff Stearns (FL-6)

Santa Cruz River, AZ --Senator Jon Kyl (AZ)

Yellowstone River, WY, MT -- Representative Barbara Cubin (WY-ALL), Representative Rick Hill (MT-ALL),

Senator Conrad Burns (MT), Senator Michael Enzi (WY), Senator Craig Thomas (WY)

River Sections With Senatorial Opposition Only

River sections are opposed by the listed Senator, but supported by a member of the House or the other Senator from the

state’s delegation. Will still be considered for designation.

South Platte River, CO --Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (CO)

Willamette River, OR -- Senator Gordon H. Smith (OR)

Missouri River, NE -- Senator Chuck Hagel (NE)

 

Senators Supporting American Heritage River Nominations

Senator River(s)

Akaka, Daniel K. Hanalei

Baucus, Max Yellowstone

Biden, Jr., Joseph R. Delaware, Broad Creek

Boxer, Barbara San Luis Rey, San Joaquin

Breaux, John Lower Mississippi

Byrd, Robert C. Potomac, Kanawha

Chafee, John H. Blackstone-Woonasquatucket

Cleland, Max Chattahoochee, Coosa, Savannah

Coverdell, Paul D. Chattahoochee, Savannah

D'Amato, Alfonse M. Hudson

DeWine, Mike Mill Creek

Dodd, Christopher J. Connecticut

Durbin, Richard J. Chicago-Illinois, Kaskaskia, Upper Mississippi (Quad Cities)

Faircloth, Lauch Lower Neuse

Feingold, Russell D. Fox, Milwaukee, Rock

Feinstein, Dianne Santa Rosa Creek

Frist, Bill Mississippi (Memphis), Tennessee

Glenn, John Mill Creek, Muskingum, Great Miami

Graham, Bob St. John's, Everglades

Grassley, Charles E. Upper Mississippi (Quad Cities)

Gregg, Judd Connecticut, Merrimack

Harkin, Tom Cedar, Upper Mississippi (Quad Cities), Missouri

Inouye, Daniel K. Hanalei

Jeffords, James M. Connecticut

Kennedy, Edward M. Connecticut, Blackstone-Woonasquatucket, Merrimack, Taunton

Kerrey, J. Robert Missouri

Kerry, John F. Acushnet, Blackstone-Woonasquatucket, Connecticut,

Merrimack, Taunton

Kohl, Herbert Fox, Milwaukee, Rock

Landrieu, Mary L. Lower Mississippi

Lautenberg, Frank R. Passaic, Delaware, Raritan, Rahway

Leahy, Patrick J. Connecticut

Levin, Carl Detroit, Grand, Muskegon

Lieberman, Joseph I. Connecticut

Mikulski, Barbara A. Anacostia, Potomac

Moseley-Braun, Carol Chicago-Illinois, Upper Mississippi, Kaskaskia

Moynihan, Daniel Patrick Buffalo, Bronx, Hudson

Murray, Patty Puyallup

Reed, Jack Blackstone-Woonasquatucket

Robb, Charles S. Potomac, James, Rappahannock

Rockefeller IV, John D. Kanawha

Roth Jr., William V. Delaware, Broad Creek

Santorum, Rick Schuylkill

Sarbanes, Paul S. Potomac, Patuxent, Anacostia

Shelby, Richard Chattahoochee

Smith, Robert C. Connecticut, Merrimack

Specter, Arlen Schuylkill, Delaware, Upper Susquehanna-Lackawanna Watershed, Lehigh, Rivers of Steel

Thompson, Fred Cumberland, Tennessee, Mississippi (Memphis)

Thurmond, Strom Waccamaw

Torricelli, Robert G. Raritan, Passaic, Delaware

Members of Congress Supporting American Heritage River Nominations

Member River(s)

Ackerman, Gary Hudson

Barrett, Thomas M. Milwaukee

Bartlett, Roscoe G. Potomac (with exception of Old Town)

Bass, Charles F. Merrimack

Bishop Jr., Sanford D. Chattahoochee

Blagojevich, Rod Chicago-Illinois

Blumenauer, Earl Willamette

Boehlert, Sherwood L. Hudson

Bonilla, Henry Rio Grande

Borski, Robert A. Delaware, Schuylkill

Boucher, Rick Levisa

Brown, Corrine St. John’s

Brown, Sherrod Black, Cuyahoga

Bryant, Ed Tennessee

Burr, Richard New

Castle, Michael N. Delaware, Broad Creek

Chabot, Steve Mill Creek

Clay, William L. Cold Water Creek

Clayton, Eva M. Lower Neuse, Roanoke

Clement, Bob Cumberland

Clyburn, James E. Edisto

Collins, Mac Chattahoochee

Conyers, Jr., John Detroit

Cooksey, M.D., John Ouachita

Costello, Jerry F. Chicago-Illinois, Kaskaskia

Coyne, William J. Rivers of Steel

Crane, Phil Chicago-Illinois

Davis, Danny K. Chicago-Illinois

Davis, Thomas M. Potomac, Tripps Run

DeGette, Diana L. South Platte River

Deutsch, Peter Everglades

Diaz-Balart, Lincoln Everglades

Dingell, John D. Detroit

Doyle, Mike Rivers of Steel

Engel, Eliot L. Hudson, Bronx

Ehlers, Vernon J. Grand River

Evans, Lane Chicago-Illinois, Upper Mississippi (Quad Cities)

Everett, Terry Chattahoochee

Ewing, Tom Chicago-Illinois

Fattah, Chaka Delaware, Schuylkill

Fawell, Harris Chicago-Illinois

Foglietta, Thomas Schuylkill

Forbes, Michael P. Hudson

Ford, Jr., Harold E. Mississippi (Memphis), Tennessee

Fox, Jon D. Schuylkill

Frank, Barney Acushnet

Franks, Bob Passaic, Rahway, Raritan

Frelinghuysen, Rodney P. Passaic

Furse, Elizabeth Willamette

Gejdenson, Sam Connecticut

Gekas, George W. Swatara Creek

Gephardt, Richard A. Cold Water Creek

Gilman, Benjamin Hudson

Gutierrez, Luis V. Chicago-Illinois

Hall, Tony P. Great Miami

Hamilton, Lee H. Ohio

Hastert, J. Dennis Chicago-Illinois

Hastings, Alcee L. Everglades, St. Lucie

Hefner, Bill New

Hinchey, Maurice D. Hudson

Hobson, Dave Great Miami

Holden, Tim Schuylkill

Hoyer, Steny H. Anacostia, Potomac, Patuxent

Hyde, Henry Chicago-Illinois

Jackson, Jr, Jesse Chicago-Illinois

Jefferson, William J. Lower Mississippi

Johnson, Jay W. Fox

Johnson, Nancy L. Connecticut

Kanjorski, Paul E. Upper Susquehanna-Lackawanna Watershed

Kelly, Sue W. Hudson

Kennedy, Patrick J. Blackstone-Woonsaquatucket, Connecticut

Kennelly, Barbara B. Connecticut

Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. Detroit

Kleczka, Jerry Milwaukee

Klink, Ron Allegheny, Ohio, Rivers of Steel

Kucinich, Dennis J. Cuyahoga

LaFalce, John J. Buffalo, Genessee, Niagara

LaHood, Ray Chicago-Illinois

LaTourette, Steven C. Cuyahoga

Lazio, Rick Hudson

Leach, James A. Cedar, Upper Mississippi (Quad Cities)

Levin, Sander M. Detroit

Lewis, John Chattahoochee

Lipinski, William Chicago-Illinois

Lowey, Nita M. Hudson, Bronx

Luther, Bill Mississippi (Twin Cities)

Maloney, Carolyn Hudson

Manton, Thomas J. Bronx

Manzullo, Donald Chicago-Illinois

Markey, Edward J. Mystic

Mascara, Frank Allegheny, Ohio, Rivers of Steel

McCarthy, Carolyn Hudson

McDade, Joseph M. Upper Susquehanna-Lackawanna Watershed

McGovern, James P. Blackstone-Woonasquatucket

McHale, Paul Lehigh

McNulty, Michael R. Hudson

Meehan, Martin T. Merrimack

Meek, Carrie P. Everglades

Menendez, Robert Passaic, Raritan

Minge, David Minnesota

Moakley, John Joseph Taunton

Morella, Constance A. Potomac

Murtha, John P. Allegheny, Rivers of Steel

Nadler, Jerrold Hudson

Neal, Richard E. Blackstone-Woonasquatucket, Connecticut

Norton, Eleanor Holmes Anacostia

Oberstar, James L. Mississippi (Twin Cities)

Olver, John W. Connecticut, Westfield

Owens, Major R. Hudson

Pallone, Jr. , Frank Raritan

Pascrell, Jr., Bill Passaic

Payne, Donald M. Rahway, Passaic

Petri, Thomas E. Fox

Porter, John Edward Chicago-Illinois

Portman, Rob Mill Creek

Poshard, Glenn Chicago-Illinois, Kaskaskia

Price, David New

Quinn, Jack Buffalo

Rangel, Charles B. Hudson

Rivers, Lynn N. Detroit

Reyes, Silvestre Rio Grande

Ros-Lehtinen, Iieana Everglades

Rothman, Steven R. Passaic

Roukema, Marge Passaic

Rush, Bobby Chicago-Illinois

Sabo, Martin Olav Mississippi (Twin Cities)

Sanders, Bernard Connecticut

Sanford, Marshall Cooper, Edisto

Saxton, Jim Delaware

Schumer, Charles Hudson

Serrano, Jose E. Hudson, Bronx

Shaw, Jr., E. Clay Everglades

Skaggs, David E. South Platte

Slaughter, Louise M. Genessee

Stabenow, Debbie Grand

Stokes, Louis Cuyahoga

Strickland, Ted Muskingum

Tierney, John F. Merrimack

Upton, Fred Kalamazoo

Vento, Bruce F. Mississippi (Twin Cities)

Wamp, Zach Tennessee

Weldon, Curt Schuylkill

Weller, Gerald J. Chicago-Illinois

Wexler, Robert Everglades

Weygand, Robert A. Blackstone-Woonasquatucket

Wise, Bob Kanawha

Woolsey, Lynn Santa Rosa Creek

Yates, Sidney Chicago-Illinois