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Strong Victory for Conservation, Republicans for Environmental Protection

House passage of legislation designating an Oregon river as wild and scenic was a strong victory for conservation, Republicans for Environmental Protection, a national grassroots organization, said today.

"We are pleased that designating the Molalla River as wild and scenic passed with strong bipartisan support. The river deserves protection because it is a source of clean drinking water and provides outstanding recreation opportunities, including whitewater rafting and fishing for native salmon and trout," David Jenkins, REP vice president for government and political affairs, said.

"We thank the 40 Republicans who voted to pass this important legislation. Their action was consistent with the conservative ethic of good stewardship. Protecting the wild and scenic rivers that are important parts of America's natural and historical heritage has long enjoyed significant Republican support," Jenkins said.

"Bipartisan support for rivers protection dates back to adoption of the 1968 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, which was spearheaded by conservative Republican Congressman John Saylor," Jim DiPeso, vice president for policy and communications, said.

"The Molalla River legislation enjoyed strong local support, including the unanimous, bipartisan backing of Oregon's congressional delegation. There were no timber sales or other economic interests that would have been affected by this designation, so it's difficult to understand the motives of House members who led opposition to this bill, unless it's rooted in blanket hostility to environmental stewardship," DiPeso said.

"We're pleased that so many Republicans kept the faith with the GOP's conservation heritage and voted to protect the Molalla River for future generations," Jenkins said.

Republicans who voted to pass HR 2781, adding the Molalla River in Oregon to America's Wild and Scenic Rivers System included:

California - Mary Bono Mack
Delaware - Michael Castle
Florida - Ginny Brown-Waite, Vern Buchanan, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Idaho - Mike Simpson
Illinois - Judy Biggert, Tim Johnson, Mark Kirk, Peter Roskam, Aaron Schock
Kentucky - Harold Rogers, Ed Whitfield
Maryland - Roscoe Bartlett
Michigan - Dave Camp, Vern Ehlers, Thaddeus McCotter, Candice Miller, Mike Rogers, Fred Upton
Minnesota - Erik Paulsen
Nebraska - Jeff Fortenberry, Lee Terry
New Jersey - Rod Frelinghuysen, Leonard Lance, Frank LoBiondo, Chris Smith
North Carolina - Walter Jones
Ohio - Steve LaTourette, Patrick Tiberi
Oregon - Greg Walden
Pennsylvania - Charles Dent, Jim Gerlach, Todd Platts
South Carolina - Bob Inglis
Virginia - Bob Goodlatte, Rob Wittman, Frank Wolf
Washington - Dave Reichert
Wisconsin - Tom Petri