Senator McConnell Provision to Extend "Freedom to Fish" Passes Committee

Statement

McConnell measure provides 5 year extension to allow fishing access at Cumberland River Dams

Washington, DC-- U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) secured a measure in the America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 that would provide a 5-year extension to his Freedom to Fish Act. The Freedom to Fish Act, signed into law in 2014, prevented the Obama administration from restricting fishing access to Kentucky's Barkley and Wolf Creek Dams--some of the most popular fishing areas in the Commonwealth.

The bipartisan America's Water Infrastructure Act, approved today by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, builds on President Trump's infrastructure approach to encourage local control over local priorities and leverage federal resources to ensure that each dollar spent goes to major water infrastructure improvements. It also cuts red tape and empowers the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to break through bureaucratic backlogs. The full U.S. Senate must now approve the legislation.

"My state of Kentucky contains more than 1,900 miles of navigable inland waterways. Our water resources support more than 13,000 jobs in the maritime industry. Paducah, Kentucky serves as the heart of America's inland waterways system, and Western Kentucky is also home to major civil works projects like Olmsted Locks and Dam and Kentucky Lock," said Senator McConnell. "So this bipartisan legislation is good news for communities throughout the Commonwealth. One provision, the Freedom to Fish Act, will help safeguard an important part of Kentucky's cultural heritage."

During the Obama administration, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers attempted to restrict fishing access to the Barkley and Wolf Creek Dams. When Senator McConnell heard of these plans from community leaders, local businesses, and anglers, he worked with members of the Kentucky and Tennessee delegation to introduce the Freedom to Fish Act. The measure gives states the ability to determine how best to regulate public access to these areas. It also prohibits the Army Corps from constructing permanent physical barriers or from otherwise restricting access to these popular fishing waters along the Cumberland River. The current measure now before the Senate provides for a new 5-year extension of the Freedom to Fish Act.

"Generations of Kentuckians have fished on Cumberland River and at the Barkley and Wolf Creek Dams. I remember my dad and his friend taking me to fish there at a young age. They were experienced fishermen. The last thing they needed was advice from federal bureaucrats on where to cast their lines," said Senator McConnell. "Thousands of Kentuckians and fishing enthusiasts will continue to have the freedom to fish these popular waters because of this legislation. I have heard from many in the local community who have expressed concerns that the expiration of the ban would rob anglers of a beloved pastime and impact the local economy. I was pleased to work with Lyon County Judge Executive Wade White to help get this measure over a critical legislative hurdle and one step closer to becoming law."

"I want to personally thank Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for his help in passing the Freedom to Fish Act in 2014 through the Senate during a difficult battle we faced to keep our 10 dams on the Cumberland River open for fishing. Facing the expiration of the Freedom to Fish Act in 2018, Senator McConnell is working to make the Freedom to Fish Act law for another five years! This means a lot to many in Kentucky and Tennessee," said Wade White, Lyon County Judge Executive.

Background:

On February 12, 2013, Senator McConnell sent a letter to the head of the Army Corps, Assistant Secretary of the Army Jo-Ellen Darcy, voicing his opposition to the administration's plan to restrict fishing access to waters above and below Barkley and Wolf Creek Dams.

On Feb. 28, 2013, Senators McConnell, Rand Paul (R-KY), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), and Bob Corker (R-TN), introduced the Freedom to Fish Act. Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-KY) introduced the House companion bill.

On March 19, 2013, Senator McConnell met with Lt. Col. Jim DeLapp, former Nashville Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to discuss the Army Corps' attempt to barricade these waters. In the meeting, Senator McConnell reiterated his opposition to the Army Corps' plan and said he would continue to work to prevent the Army Corps from restricting access to the tailwaters of the dams.

On April 13, 2013, Senator McConnell met with local elected officials, anglers and local residents at Lake Barkley to hear firsthand their concerns regarding the Army Corps' plan and was told that the proposal to block access to these waters would have a major detrimental impact on the communities near these dams.

On May 15, 2013, the Senate passed its initial version of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA), which included the McConnell Freedom to Fish provision.

On May 16, 2013, the Senate passed a separate bill introduced by Senator McConnell to delay, for two-years, the Army Corps' ability to restrict public access to these waters, allowing time for the Conference Committee to produce a final WRRDA bill. The President signed Senator McConnell's measure into law on June 3, 2013.

On August 28, 2013, Senator McConnell--along with Senator Paul--wrote House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) requesting that he include the permanent Freedom to Fish language in his committee's bill and in the final WRRDA legislation to be considered by both houses of Congress.

On May 16, 2014, Senator McConnell was successful in securing his Freedom to Fish language in WRRDA. Senator McConnell's provision prohibited the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from restricting public access to Kentucky's Barkley and Wolf Creek Dams for four years.

On May 20, 2014, the House of Representatives passed Senator McConnell's Freedom to Fish provision.

On May 22, 2014, the Senate passed Senator McConnell's Freedom to Fish provision.

On June 10, 2014, the President signed Senator McConnell's Freedom to Fish provision into law.

On May 22, 2018, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works approved Senator McConnell's language providing a new 5-year extension of the Freedom to Fish Act.

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