{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://nolan.house.gov/the-monday-report/theyre-in-serious-trouble", "They're in serious trouble!", "2017-11-27", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "MN", "Rick Nolan", "N000127", "nolan.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Saving Minnesota\u2019s Loons - Before It\u2019s Too Late \n\u00a0\n\tThese iconic Minnesota loons are swimming near Ely, on Minnesota\u2019s Iron Range.\u00a0\nDear Friend,\nThe community of Crosslake is stepping up to help save the Minnesota loon, the iconic state bird we love so much here in the Northland. The loon is in serious trouble. And I\u2019m working with Crosslakers, and with my colleagues in Congress, to help lead the rescue before it\u2019s too late.\u00a0Minnesota has more loons than any other state in the lower 48, and we aim to keep it that way.\nThe facts are clear\n The National Audubon Society has placed the loon on its list of 300 birds that may become extinct\u00a0in the lower 48 states by the turn of the Century.\n  Climate change and man-made pollution\u00a0are eroding loon habitat and breeding grounds.\n  Invasive zebra mussels\u00a0are spreading a\u00a0deadly form of botulism\u00a0that has already killed thousands of loons.\u00a0\u00a0\n  Scientists confirm that the deadly BP oil spill that occurred seven years ago in the Gulf of Mexico has probably caused genetic damage to the young loons\u00a0that migrate south, live in those waters,\u00a0and stay in the Gulf region for three or four years before returning.\n The Community of Crosslake Steps Up to Help Save Our Loons\nWith the future of our loon population at stake,\u00a0the community of Crosslake \u2013 including a growing coalition of local businesses, civic groups and citizens \u2013 has launched a groundbreaking new project to turn the tide\u00a0by establishing a\u00a0National Loon Center\u00a0and model Green Marina Project for the region.\u00a0\nAmong many other things, the project would help\u00a0build awareness and advocacy for loons and formulate loon survival strategies. The effort would also help restore fragile shoreline and loon habitat, promote environmental education, recreation, and tourism, and enhance the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers\u2019 camp ground\u00a0to encourage folks to watch and appreciate loons in their natural state.\nI have asked the Army Corps to include the National Loon Center and Green Marina Project in its 2018 Civil Works Plan.\u00a0Moreover,\u00a0I am strongly supporting Minnesota\u2019s efforts to secure a $6 million grant from a fund set up by BP Oil to help the loon population.\u00a0Administered through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, that money would be combined with private funds to help restore shorelines on loon nesting lakes. Meanwhile, the Crosslake community is planning to submit its own funding applications to state, federal, and private non-profit entities committed to the survival of loons and other birds and wildlife.\u00a0\nBattling Zebra Mussels and Climate Change to Help Save Our Loons\nIn the meantime,\u00a0my successful bipartisan amendment to the Department of Defense Appropriations bill will boost the Army Corps\u2019 anti-zebra mussel program to a total of $1 million next year.\u00a0Those funds will help stop the epidemic of botulism that\u2019s killing loons and threatening Minnesota\u2019s multi-billion dollar sport fishing and tourism industry.\nAnd last but far from least, I\u00a0am the first and only member of the Minnesota Congressional Delegation to join the bipartisan Climate Change Solutions Caucus.\u00a0The Audubon Society predicts that unless we address climate change,\u00a0gradually warming temperatures will drive our entire Minnesota loon population northward to Canada by 2100.\u00a0Our children and grandchildren deserve to hear the same call of the loon that we have enjoyed all our lives. That\u2019s what these efforts to preserve and protect our loons are really all about.\u00a0\nWe will keep you posted as events proceed. Meanwhile, I want to hear your thoughts. Feel free to contact any of our offices listed below or\u00a0send me an email.\nSincerely,  \n  P.S. Did You Know These Facts About Our Minnesota Loons?\n The bones of most birds are hollow and light, but loons have solid bones.\n  The extra weight helps them dive as deep as 250 feet to search for food. They can stay underwater for up to five minutes.\n  Because their bodies are heavy relative to their wing size, loons need a 100 to 600-foot \u201crunway\u201d in order to take off from a lake.\n  Loons can fly more than 75 miles per hour.\n  The red in the loon\u2019s eye helps it to see under water.\n  Scientists think loons can live up to 30 years and more.\n \u00a0\nThe full letter is available HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://nolan.house.gov/the-monday-report/theyre-in-serious-trouble"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.7825961112976074, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}