The Bait Assessment group on Lake Ontario NEEDS OUR HELP

[Yankee Troller]

These guys could be on the chopping block with the current administrations cuts. They are not allowed to fight for their jobs, but we can help them! We need to get in contact with our local representatives with phone calls and letters asking for them to go to fight for Lake Ontario's Salmon and Trout fishery that brings in a huge chunk of money through tourism. It'd be great if someone could add to this post a list of politicians to make it easier for guys to figure out who they need to contact.

 

https://www.science.org/content/article/trump-swings-budget-ax-usgs-biology-research

[Gill-T]

https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

[LongLine]

USGS needs our support.  Members of congress concerned with Great lakes:

 

The members of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force are:

Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
Richard Durbin (D-IL)
John Fetterman (D-PA)
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Jon Husted (R-OH)
Amy Klobuchar (Vice-Chair) (D-MN)

Bernie Moreno (Co-Chair) (R-OH)
Gary Peters (Co-Chair) (D-MI)
Charles Schumer (D-NY)
Elissa Slotkin (D-MI)
Tina Smith (D-MN)
Todd Young (Vice-Chair) (R-IN)

 

The members of the House Great Lakes Task Force are:

Jack Bergman (R-MI-01)
Shontel Brown (D-OH-11)
Sean Casten (D-IL-06)
Debbie Dingell (Co-Chair) (D-MI-06)
Bill Foster (D-IL-11)
Glenn Grothman (R-WI-06)
Bill Huizenga (Co-Chair) (R-MI-04)
John James (R-MI-10)
David Joyce (Co-Chair) (R-OH-14)
Marcy Kaptur (Co-Chair) (D-OH-09)
Mike Kelly (R-PA-16)
Robin Kelly (D-IL-02)
Tim Kennedy (D-NY-26)
Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08)
Nick Langworthy (R-NY-23)
John Mannion (D-NY-22)
Lisa McClain (R-MI-09)
Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI-08)
John Moolenaar (R-MI-02)
Gwen Moore (D-WI-04)
Joe Morelle (D-NY-25
Frank Mrvan (D-IN-01)
Mike Quigley (D-IL-05)
Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09)
Brad Schneider (D-IL-10)
Hillary Scholten (D-MI-03)
Pete Stauber (R-MN-08)
Bryan Steil (R-WI-01)
Haley Stevens (D-MI-11)
Emilia Sykes (D-OH-13)
Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24)
Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13)
GT Thompson (R-PA-15)
Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12)
Michael Turner (R-OH-10)
Tim Walberg (R-MI-05)
Tony Wied (R-WI-08)
Rudy Yakym (R-IN-02)
 

I previously posted a letter to Joe Morelle in other thread with directions on how to email them.  Feel free to copy/paste it in to a email to any/all of above.

[LongLine]

Dear Congressman,

 

I am writing to voice my concern and opposition any proposed cuts to the USGS Scientific Center budget.

 

 The USGS studies plants, animals, bacteria and the interactions with humans and the landscape.  They actively support effective management of species, lands and ecosystems and mitigating costly impacts of invasive species, pollution and wildlife diseases which impact every state. They also have outreach/education programs for the public.
 

Tunison National Lab (Cortland NY) and Hammond Bay (Michigan) have been instrumental in our area by supporting the health of the Great lakes and Lake Ontario via research and monitoring of the water and fisheries. They have worked to identify Zebra Mussels, Sea Lampreys and Bird-flu as well as mitigate their harmful affects to our ecosystem.  They have also developed control measures to keep the Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. Over 180 invasive species have been identified in Lake Ontario alone! 

USGS has been the "top of the list" resource for agencies of all the states to maintain healthy wildlife. In our fishery, they actively support the restoration of native species such as the Cisco, Bloater, Lake Trout and Salmon which at one time had abundant populations in Lake Ontario.  Successful restoration and protection require constant monitoring of the environment so that future generations can enjoy the great outdoors.

 

USGS Biological Labs actively monitors the conditions of the prey fish in the lake to monitor the effectiveness, success and control of the restoration of native game fishes in the lakes.  This annual assessment program must not be allowed to lapse.
 

It is far better to have a dedicated body of experienced scientists proactively committed and "at the ready" to solve environmental issues than have states seek out the lowest bidder of educational institutions that would have to start from scratch well after environment catastrophes strike.

 

I urge you to vote against and convince your colleagues in congress to defeat any budget cuts to the USGS Science Center.

 

Thank you

 

 

(Note: with an edit.)
 

[GAMBLER]

If this is going to happen, the Great Lake States should band together and make a multistate organization that financially supports the Great Lakes research.  

[LongLine]

Brian - USGS cut needs to be prevented.  If states took over then NY would have to contend with "down state" pulling it out of budget the following year. 

[GAMBLER]

2 hours ago, LongLine said:

Brian - USGS cut needs to be prevented.  If states took over then NY would have to contend with "down state" pulling it out of budget the following year. 

I get that Tom.  If it doesn't happen, the states should take over.  If not, we are screwed.  

[Yankee Troller]

There are 2 somewhat related issues. 

 

The lease for the large vessel field station in Oswego NY is being canceled by the Department of the Interior at the end of September 2025.

 

Additionally, the funding for the ecosystems branch of USGS has been canceled in the president’s budget.

[Gator]

Joe Morelle and I have become pen pals lately.

 

Even if you support budget reductions in general, it's important to make your voice heard . Otherwise, you're at the mercy of the politician's priorities, and we know those don't always reflect those of the taxpayer.

[fisherdude]

Tough world we live in now. Democrat Representatives House and Senate are always going to vote against Trump's and the Republicans bills. contacting Republicans Representatives are your best bet to suede the rebs away from Trump. Trump has a tight grip on the Reds as of now . Some rebs are starting  to break.  Like Mitch McConnell which has no more skin in the game after his term is up. I did contact my Republican representative Claudia Tenney and left my option.  

[Yankee Troller]

On 5/2/2025 at 5:58 AM, fisherdude said:

Tough world we live in now. Democrat Representatives House and Senate are always going to vote against Trump's and the Republicans bills. contacting Republicans Representatives are your best bet to suede the rebs away from Trump. Trump has a tight grip on the Reds as of now . Some rebs are starting  to break.  Like Mitch McConnell which has no more skin in the game after his term is up. I did contact my Republican representative Claudia Tenney and left my option.  

 

Wouldn't we want to contact the Dems becasue this is against what Trump is doing? lol

 

All politicians are slimy so we might as well leverage that and pit them against each other.

[Gator]

I still miss Louise Slaughter. I have her obituary posted on the door of my lab. She was incredibly supportive and open to new ideas, as well as being accessible. I don't even know if she was red or blue. It didn't matter. RIP.

[fisherdude]

I believe you misunderstood me the Democrats are not going to vote for Trump no matter if he's handing out gold to the Democrats if you sway the Republican Representatives away from Trump then that's a win for you as a liberal can you understand that

[fisherdude]

The Republican Party holds the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. As of April 2, 2025, the House had 220 Republicans, 213 Democrats, and 2 vacancies. 

[fisherdude]

In the current 119th Congress, Republicans hold a majority in the Senate with 53 seats, while Democrats hold 45 seats. There are also 2 Independents who caucus with the Democrats

[Yankee Troller]

14 hours ago, fisherdude said:

I believe you misunderstood me the Democrats are not going to vote for Trump no matter if he's handing out gold to the Democrats if you sway the Republican Representatives away from Trump then that's a win for you as a liberal can you understand that

 

13 hours ago, fisherdude said:

The Republican Party holds the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. As of April 2, 2025, the House had 220 Republicans, 213 Democrats, and 2 vacancies. 

 

13 hours ago, fisherdude said:

In the current 119th Congress, Republicans hold a majority in the Senate with 53 seats, while Democrats hold 45 seats. There are also 2 Independents who caucus with the Democrats

 

You couldn't find a way to put this all in one post? 

[fisherdude]

2 hours ago, Yankee Troller said:

 

 

 

You couldn't find a way to put this all in one post? 

Took to much time from your busy day huh . 

Edited Thursday at 02:57 PM by fisherdude
.

[Yankee Troller]

5 minutes ago, fisherdude said:

Took to much time from you busy day huh . 

 

Family, business, and a couple of day jobs. Everyday is busy.

[fisherdude]

25 minutes ago, Yankee Troller said:

 

Family, business, and a couple of day jobs. Everyday is busy.

Power to the people ✊️

[fisherdude]

Perfect example of what I'm saying watching the news this morning I see the house past the bill to change the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America not one Democratic voted for it . I don't know what's wrong with the Gulf of America it covers all of us Mexico United States Bills off to the Senate now to see if any Democrats vote for it there I'm willing to bet not. 

[Gill-T]

Because it is an absolute waste of time voting on unimportant dribble as changing the name of a body of water for political gains when there are REAL problems that our representatives should be working on. 

[Yankee Troller]

1 minute ago, Gill-T said:

Because it is an absolute waste of time voting on unimportant dribble as changing the name of a body of water for political gains when there are REAL problems that our representatives should be working on. 

 

100% agree

[fisherdude]

Tax cut bill looming,think any dems vote for lower taxes for the people?

[LongLine]

They would if it really lowered taxes for the people.  Read the actual proposal!  It extends the tax rate we've been paying and opens up more loopholes for his "buddies."

 

Going to buy a Rolls with your refund? or a couple of fishing lures? or a couple of "barbie dolls" ? (On the black market.)

 

Back to thread topic:  I hope everyone has sent an email or 2 to their congressman/woman about USGS. 

 

 

[fisherdude]

Yes send an email . No tax on tip No tax on Social Security. Look for cuts elsewhere.

Edited Friday at 09:40 PM by fisherdude
.