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Anglers, Politicians Join Forces at Freedom to Fish Rally

Politicians and anglers are teaming up to stop the US Army Corps of Engineers from installing barriers next to its dams to keep boats from getting too close.

Sens. Mitch McConnell, Lamar Alexander, Rand Paul and Congressman Ed Whitfield took part in a “Freedom to Fish Rally” this weekend at Barkley Dam to protest to Corps’ plan.

Whitfield has introduced a bill in Congress called “The Freedom to Fish Act,” but he says the effort doesn’t stop there. 

“We’re gonna try to get it to the floor under suspension calendar to get a vote on it," he said. " And I don’t know what else we’re going to do, but I am going to commit to you today that our group working together were going to make sure we do everything possible to make sure that we protect the right to fish at these dams.”

The Corps plans to erect barriers at all 10 of its dams in Kentucky and Tennessee. The Corps says boating too close to dam spillways is a safety risk.

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